Baltic Sea countries are engaged in mutual cooperation for planning hydrogen infrastructure from Finland to Germany

On Wednesday, the gas system operators of the Baltic Sea countries signed a cooperation agreement with its final objective being the construction of hydrogen infrastructure connecting Finland, the Baltics, Poland, and Germany.

Six gas system operators – Finnish Gasgrid Finland, Estonian Elering, Latvian Conexus Baltic Grid, Lithuanian Amber Grid, Polish GAZ-SYSTEM, and German ONTRAS – launched the project, called the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor. The project will improve the energy-related cooperation of the Baltic Sea countries and aid reducing Europe’s dependence on imported fossil fuels, support the security of supply of energy and reduce the carbon footprint in the entire region.

Along with diversifying energy sources and accelerating the development of renewable energy, the project allows the European Union to reach its goal of producing 10 million tons of hydrogen from renewable sources by 2030. The planned infrastructure would allow transporting ’green’ hydrogen produced in the Baltic Sea region to the storage facilities on the route, as well as to consumption and industrial centres, all the way to Central European countries. Developing hydrogen infrastructure allows for creating a joint hydrogen market, which will provide excellent access to hydrogen produced from renewable energy for companies in the Baltic Sea countries.

Several surveys need to be conducted, given the difficulty of the project. Already next year, the six system operators are planning to conduct a feasibility survey which will provide an input for subsequent surveys, plans, and applications for the required permits.

The project will help implement the hydrogen strategy of the European Union and the RePower EU Plan, but also the wider goals of the green policies in Europe