PURPOSE. To analyze the prospects of integrating hydrogen technologies into the traditional directions of development of the electric power industry in the world and Russia. To highlight the competitive advantages of Russia in the changing structure of the industry with the transition to" green " hydrogen. METHODS. The analysis of the literature data and the data of the international information exchange is carried out. RESULTS. The most urgent scientific and technical problem of the economy, affecting any practical aspect of human economic activity, is the issue of the availability of energy resources and the impact on the environment. It is now, in the context of the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, that the trends of globalization are particularly acute, and the degree of cross-border information communication using digital capabilities has increased many times. CONCLUSION. The transition to a new technological stage of energy supply for our society is more urgent than ever, based on innovative approaches to the creation of intelligently managed global energy systems with their consolidation and, at the same time, decentralization and distribution to local levels of centers, production, consumption and management, increasing the share of small RES, the introduction of new digital solutions, the use of hydrogen technology chains and hybrid systems based on them and other promising energy technologies on an industrial scale.