Vetyalfa’s refinery project and Gasgrid’s network planning are building a hydrogen economy in Finland 

The EU funding awarded to Vetyalfa’s hydrogen project in Utajärvi is a positive sign of the progress being made in the hydrogen economy in Finland. Gasgrid is building the conditions for the hydrogen economy by developing the hydrogen transmission infrastructure and associated hydrogen valleys together with project developers and other regional actors. By developing hydrogen infrastructure, Gasgrid supports the development of the hydrogen economy in Finland. Individual investments can accelerate the emergence of a new market, form regional network systems, and integrate into a broader hydrogen market. 

– EU funding is a significant step forward in our project. At the same time, it is clear that the scalability of the project requires a functioning transmission infrastructure and the possibility of connection to the broader hydrogen market, says Reija Knuutila, CEO of Vetyalfa. 

Gasgrid considers it a positive sign that Vetyalfa is to receive funding from the EU Innovation Fund for its planned hydrogen refinery project in Utajärvi, North Ostrobothnia.  

–This support is a positive sign that the hydrogen economy is moving forward in Finland and Europe despite recent uncertainty in the operating environment affecting the development of the hydrogen economy. It is encouraging for the entire industry to see that regional projects are making concrete progress. Such projects are the first steps towards the emergence of a functioning hydrogen market in Finland, says Sara Kärki, Senior Vice President, Hydrogen Development at Gasgrid. 

Demand driving the building of a market-based infrastructure 

North Ostrobothnia has been identified as one of Finland’s key development regions for the hydrogen economy. The region already has several concurrent projects that together will lay the foundation for so-called regional hydrogen valleys. These are integrated systems in which hydrogen production, use and infrastructure develop in parallel. 

This spring, Gasgrid and Vetyalfa launched a cooperation project to examine the feasibility of a potential regional hydrogen transmission route. Ecological surveys are currently ongoing for the planned Oulu–Utajärvi–Vaala transmission route as part of the preparations for environmental impact assessment. In addition, technical and commercial solutions are being developed which are required for the project to progress. 

–Our Utajärvi project portfolio will be developed in phases. To ensure that regional project development can be integrated into the national transmission infrastructure, it is important that our partners are able to support us in our project, which is built on scalable solutions. The conditions for implementing the infrastructure, such as the hydrogen transmission line, must be assessed in phases and in a market-driven manner. Our close collaboration with Gasgrid is a great help in achieving this, says Reija Knuutila at Vetyalfa. 

In future, regional solutions may enable projects to be connected to the broader hydrogen transmission infrastructure, such as the Nordic Hydrogen Route between Finland and Sweden.

Regional hydrogen valleys building the foundation for the hydrogen economy 

Gasgrid Finland is in active dialogue with actors not just in the North Ostrobothnia region but also with those in several other regions. The aim is to form a common view of infrastructure development needs and the timetables for the launch of value chains. 

–Above all, our role is to enable the development of the hydrogen economy. We bring together projects and different actors and advance concrete infrastructure planning and permitting so that investments can be a reality. Our progress is advancing the development of the hydrogen economy, step by step, says Sara Kärki. 

–The progress of individual projects and connecting them to the infrastructure create a common market. The emergence of the hydrogen market is a major concept that calls for faith, courage and capital from actors to move investments towards reality. 

Further information: 

Gasgrid: Sara Kärki, SVP, Hydrogen Development  

For media contacts and interview requests, please contact Gasgrid’s communications department: viestinta@gasgrid.fi, marjaana.kivioja@gasgrid.fi ortel. +358 400 773 181 

Vetyalfa: Reija Knuutila, CEO, reija.knuutila@vetyalfa.fi, tel. +358 50 379 3735 

Gasgrid is a multi-gas company of the future providing energy transmission system solutions to promote clean transition and an energy-efficient society. We strengthen Finland’s economic growth, security of supply, and energy independence, and support the balancing power required for emission-free electricity production. Through our international infrastructure projects, we are preparing to meet the demand for clean gas energy in Europe as well. Gasgrid Group’s business operations consist of gas operations, LNG terminal operations, hydrogen development, and project execution. More information: gasgrid.fi

Vetyalfa is a project developer focused on green hydrogen refinery projects. It is part of the Alfa Companies, which also include Tuulialfa Oy, a developer of wind power and electricity grid projects, and Solaralfa Oy, a company focused on solar energy and energy storage projects. The strategy of the Alfa Companies is to enable a comprehensive renewable energy value chain in Finland. This is ensured by a broad project portfolio that enables the expansion of synthetic fuel production capacity to meet market needs well into the 2030s.