Gasgrid Finland is to accelerate the development of Finland’s national hydrogen infrastructure as well as the infrastructure enabling a regional hydrogen market to support development of a hydrogen economy in Finland.
Due to recent changes in the operating environment, a tighter energy and security policy situation as well as the aims of the European Commission’s REPowerEU plan to improve Europe’s energy self-sufficiency, it has become necessary to fast forward the development of Finland’s new national and cross-border energy infrastructure. Besides this, Finland’s very considerable renewable energy resources could enable the emergence and development of new European-scale industries in Finland based on competitive electricity, thereby creating new export and production potential.
The European Commission’s REPowerEU plan means ambitions to increase the amount of renewable energy and hydrogen have risen considerably compared to the EU’s earlier ambitions and the timespan has also been tightened to respond to the changed situation. The RepowerEU decision will increase the prerequisites for a hydrogen economy on a fast schedule. It is crucial to fast forward the development of the energy infrastructure to enable change and to reach these ambitions. This is why the Finnish Government has decided to mandate Gasgrid Finland to promote development of the national hydrogen infrastructure, international infrastructure cooperation and the hydrogen market in the Baltic Sea Region as soon as possible.
“Gasgrid’s hydrogen business is an excellent continuation of the Government’s determined energy policy. Hydrogen-based solutions enable us to reduce both emissions and the price of energy. At the same time, we are also improving our energy self-sufficiency. This opening will put Finland at the forefront of the hydrogen economy,” says Minister of Finance Annika Saarikko, who is responsible for Gasgrid Finland’s ownership steering.
“The Government wants that, before the end of this parliamentary term, measures are taken to promote investments required for the transfer and distribution of hydrogen. The key guidelines for the hydrogen economy are included in the Climate and Energy Strategy, which will be submitted to Parliament on the week beginning Monday 27 June. The political decision made by the Government’s Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy (TALPO) gives a preview of the hydrogen section of the strategy,” says Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä.
“Finland has excellent wind power resources, highly competitive electricity price and stable social structure. Advanced energy networks will enable Finland’s competitiveness on the global market in the creation of value chains, investments, and jobs in the hydrogen economy. Finland’s leadership and expertise in the development and implementation of renewable energy and sustainable technology solutions will also be a significant advantage in international competition. Finland has every possibility to become a leading country in the hydrogen economy, but we must be able to get the message across internationally,” says Gasgrid Finland’s CEO Olli Sipilä.
The responsibility for development will allow Gasgrid Finland to fast track the development it has already started and projects already underway such as the Nordic Hydrogen Route – Bothnian Bay. The Nordic Hydrogen Route is a cross-border project between Finland and Sweden aimed at building a network of pipelines in the Bothnia Bay region. To promote the development of a hydrogen economy, Gasgrid Finland has additionally launched a demonstration project on hydrogen transmission aimed at utilising Kemira’s by-product hydrogen at Ovako’s Imatra mill. The project will generate new know-how and conditions to serve hydrogen economy development more broadly.
For more information, please contact:
Olli Sipilä, CEO, Gasgrid Finland Oy, +358 40 589 4686, olli.sipila@gasgrid.fi
Sara Kärki, Head of Strategic Analysis and RDI, +358 40 158 1722, sara.karki@gasgrid.fi
