Assessment of the technical and economic feasibility of introducing hydrogen fuel cells for decarbonation of the open-cut transport on the Kola Peninsula

I.A. Rozhdestvenskaya, A.M. Belyaev, K.E. Lukichev, A.V. Zubenko, A.M. Laffakh
Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №1/ 2026 p. 122-129

Abstract: Cutting carbon footprint of the mining industry on the Kola Peninsula requires a radical rethinking of the energy supply for open-cut transport. Conventional diesel engines of the mining dump trucks generate up to 70–80% of the total greenhouse gas emissions of mining companies in the region, which amounts to approximately 280–320 thousand tons of the CO2 equivalent annually. Hydrogen fuel cells used in hybrid power plants are a technologically viable alternative to traditional diesel engines and ensure operational parameters with zero direct emissions. The aim of the study is to assess the technical and economic feasibility of introducing hydrogen fuel cells on mining dump trucks in the Kola Peninsula with account of the region's climate, infrastructure, and production factors. The study included a comparative analysis of the energy efficiency of hybrid hydrogenbattery power plants vs. their diesel counterparts; modeling of the operating modes for typical in-pit transportation cycles, as well as calculations of the environmental and economic effects of decarbonating the mine fleets. The results show that a 2 MW hybrid hydrogen-battery power plant provides 81–88% higher transmission efficiency when compared to a diesel-electric drive with an identical load capacity of 290–320 tons. Transition of one 290-tonne mining dump truck to hydrogen fuel cells eliminates 2,700–2,920 tonnes of CO2 2-equivalent per year, which is equal to decommissioning of 650–700 passenger cars. Economic efficiency is achieved at the cost of green hydrogen of $5.79–6.85/kg with account of a 35–40% reduction in the maintenance costs as compared to the diesel-powered units. The specific Arctic conditions of the Kola Peninsula require adaptation of the fuel cell thermostatting systems to ensure their operability at the temperatures as low as –40°C as well as development of a distributed infrastructure for hydrogen production and storage based on renewable energy sources. Introduction of the hydrogen technologies in open-cut transport on the Kola Peninsula creates a synergistic effect of cutting the carbon footpring of the mining industry, of reducing local pollutant emissions, and of forming a regional hydrogen cluster with the potential to export technological solutions.

Keywords: hydrogen fuel cells, decarbonation of mining operations, mining dump trucks, Kola Peninsula, hybrid power plants, green hydrogen, energy efficiency

For citation: Rozhdestvenskaya I.A., Belyaev A.M., Lukichev K.E., Zubenko A.V., Laffakh A.M. Assessment of the technical and economic feasibility of introducing hydrogen fuel cells for decarbonation of the open-cut transport on the Kola Peninsula. Russian Mining Industry. 2026;(1):122–129. https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2026-1-122-129

Article info

Received: 11.10.2025

Revised: 16.12.2025

Accepted: 16.01.2025

Information about the authors

Irina A. Rozhdestvenskaya – Dr. Sci. (Econ.), Professor of the Department of State and Municipal Administration, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Alexander M. Belyaev – Dr. Sci. (Sociol.), Professor of the Department of State and Municipal Administration, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Konstantin E. Lukichev – Cand. Sci. (Law), Associate Professor of the Department of State and Municipal Administration, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Andrey V. Zubenko – Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Associate Professor of the Department of State and Municipal Administration, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Adam M. Laffakh – Assistant of the Department of State and Municipal Administration, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

References

1. Norgate T., Haque N. Energy and greenhouse gas impacts of mining and mineral processing operations. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2010;18(3):266–274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2009.09.020

2. Shedko Yu.N., Kharchenko K.V., Zudenkova S.A., Moskvitina E.I., Babayan L.K. A synergetic approach to open-pit mine management using big data and intelligent predictive analytics systems. Russian Mining Industry. 2025;(1):154–160. https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2025-1-154-160

3. Bethoux O. Hydrogen fuel cell road vehicles and their infrastructure: an option towards an environmentally friendly energy transition. Energies. 2020;13(22):6132. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13226132

4. Krasyukova N.L., Kharchenko K.V., Sagina O.A., Moskvitina E.I., Babayan L.K. Automated geological exploration mapping using convolutional neural structures and data acquisition methods based on swarms of drones. Russian Mining Industry. 2025;(2):184–191. https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2025-2-184-191

5. Dincer I., Acar C. Review and evaluation of hydrogen production methods for better sustainability. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2015;40(34):11094–11111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.12.035

6. Kharchenko K.V., Zubets A.Zh., Razumova E.V., Moskvitina E.I., Voronova E.I. Integration of distributed cloud computing to improve coal mining efficiency and monitoring of mining processes. Russian Mining Industry. 2025;(2):82–90. https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2025-2-82-90

7. Grigoriev S.A., Fateev V.N., Bessarabov D.G., Millet P. Current status, research trends, and challenges in water electrolysis science and technology. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2020;45(49):26036–26058. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.03.109

8. Panina O.V., Zavalko N.A., Eremin S.G., Kharchenko K.V., Zudenkova S.A. Development of neural networks to analyze vibration signals of mining equipment and prevent emergency situations. Russian Mining Industry. 2025;(2):97–104. https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2025-2-97-104

9. Sovacool B.K., Ali S.H., Bazilian M., Radley B., Nemery B., Okatz J., Mulvaney D. Sustainable minerals and metals for a lowcarbon future. Science. 2020;367(6473):30–33. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaz6003

10. Cunanan C, Tran M-K, Lee Y, Kwok S, Leung V, Fowler M. A review of heavy-duty vehicle powertrain technologies: diesel engine vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles. Clean Technologies. 2021;3(2):474–489. https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol3020028

11. Panina O.V., Popadyuk N.K., Eremin S.G., Tokmurzin T.M., Razumova E.V. Application of the BigData technologies to optimize production processes in the Russian mining industry: analysis of implementation and efficiency. Russian Mining Industry. 2024;(6):178–185. https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2024-6-178-185

12. Panina O.V., Belyaev A.M., Zavalko N.A., Eremin S.G., Sagina O.A. Application of deep machine learning methods for structural analysis of ore bodies and prediction of optimal mining zones. Russian Mining Industry. 2025;(1):177–183. https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2025-1-177-183

13. Ellingsen L.A.-W., Majeau-Bettez G., Singh B., Srivastava A.K., Valøen L.O., Strømman A.H. Life cycle assessment of a lithiumion battery vehicle pack. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 2014;18(1):113–124. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12072

14. Moradi R., Groth K.M. Hydrogen storage and delivery: Review of the state of the art technologies and risk and reliability analysis. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2019;44(23):12254–12269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.03.041

15. Teichmann D., Arlt W., Wasserscheid P. Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers as an efficient vector for the transport and storage of renewable energy. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2012;37(23):18118–18132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2012.08.066

16. Aminudin M.A., Kamarudin S.K., Lim B.H., Majilan E.H., Masdar M.S., Shaari N. An overview: Current progress on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2023;48(11):4371–4388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.10.156

17. Griffiths S., Sovacool B.K., Kim J., Bazilian M., Uratani J.M. Industrial decarbonization via hydrogen: A critical and systematic review of developments, socio-technical systems and policy options. Energy Research & Social Science. 2021;80:102208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.102208

18. Parkinson B., Balcombe P., Speirs J.F., Hawkes A.D., Hellgardt K. Levelized cost of CO2 mitigation from hydrogen production routes. Energy & Environmental Science. 2019;12(1):19–40. https://doi.org/10.1039/C8EE02079E

19. Perskaya V.V. Greening of industrialization as a new stage in the development of the global economy. Economics, Taxes & Law. 2025;18(2):19–30. https://doi.org/10.26794/1999-849X-2025-18-2-19-30

20. Prudnikova A.A. The international economic decarbonization agenda: Russia’s view and response. Economics, Taxes & Law. 2025;18(2):129–137. https://doi.org/10.26794/1999-849X-2025-18-2-129-137