All three hydrogen transport projects promoted by Gasgrid together with its international partners have been awarded support from the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).
Financial support was sought for the feasibility phase of three projects: the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor (NBHC), the Nordic Hydrogen Route (NHR) and the Baltic Sea Hydrogen Collector (BHC), all of which were awarded financial support.
Gasgrid and its partners applied for support in autumn 2024. The CEF (Connecting Europe Facility) committee for EU energy projects decided on the matter on 29 January 2025 based on a proposal from the European Commission.
The Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor project is developing hydrogen infrastructure connecting Finnish, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish and German markets. The Nordic Hydrogen Route project is developing a hydrogen infrastructure between Finland and Sweden along the coastline of the Bothnian Bay. The Baltic Sea Hydrogen Collector project is developing an offshore hydrogen infrastructure to connect the Finnish, Swedish and Central European markets. These three projects aim to create excellent investment conditions for clean electricity, hydrogen and hydrogen processing plants nationally and in the wider Baltic Sea Region.
“This is excellent news for Finland, the Baltic Sea Region, and the European hydrogen economy as a whole. The decision shows that Finland and the Baltic Sea Region is a strategically important and very competitive region for the development of the hydrogen economy and support EU-climate targets. This decision confirms Gasgrid’s long-term commitment and our work to promote the development of the Finnish hydrogen economy. In line with our strategy, we will continue to develop the national hydrogen infrastructure and at the same time promote international infrastructure projects and the building of an international market to enable investment in the hydrogen economy in Finland and wider Baltic region,” says Sara Kärki, Senior Vice President, Hydrogen Development at Gasgrid.
EUR 51.4 million for project follow-up studies
In April 2024, the European Commission granted the projects Project of Common Interest (PCI) status and the projects have now been awarded support totalling EUR 51.4 million.
Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor project (NBHC) received support totalling EUR 6.8 million.
Nordic Hydrogen Route project (NHR) received EUR 29.4 million.
Baltic Sea Hydrogen Collector project (BHC) received EUR 15.3 million.
The projects were evaluated against strictly defined criteria: priority and urgency, maturity, quality, impact and catalytic impact. The European Commission has considered that all three projects contribute to decarbonization and meeting the EU’s climate and energy targets, and facilitates the creation of an integrated, competitive and transparent cross-border hydrogen market.
“The decision is great news for Finland. There is fierce competition in the EU for infrastructure funding so this decision is a great testimony to the quality of our projects and their potential to contribute to the EU’s energy independence, energy security and potential to support the clean transition,” Kärki adds.
More information:
Please send media contacts and requests for interviews to Sara Kärki via Gasgrid communications to marjaana.kivioja@gasgrid.fi or tel. +358 400 773 181
Ministerial adviser Maria Kekki, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 2950 47108
Read more:
Nordic Hydrogen Route – Bothnian Bay (NHR): Nordic Hydrogen Route – Bothnian Bay
Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor (NBHC): Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor
Baltic Sea Hydrogen Collector (BHC): The Baltic Sea Hydrogen Collector
CEF: The Connecting Europe Facility provides financial support for the development of energy networks, among other things. In this round, various energy infrastructure projects received EU funding totalling EUR 1.2 billion.