The second Hydrogen Summit & Expo gathered clean hydrogen enthusiasts in Tampere, Finland, in January 2026. Gasgrid participated in the overall discussion on the development of the hydrogen economy. One of the key checkpoints on the European hydrogen roadmap is the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor, stretching from Finland to Germany.

Speaking at the event, Sari Multala, the Finnish Minister of the Environment and Climate, stated that the current situation in hydrogen development is quite solid. The initial “hype phase” has been passed, and now we are moving decisively towards building a continent-wide hydrogen system.

The presentations at the Summit & Expo painted a positive picture of the possibilities surrounding hydrogen. Investments related to the production of clean hydrogen are increasing around the world, and recently, for example, China, India, Japan, and South Korea have invested significantly in hydrogen.

There were lively discussions at the Gasgrid stand. These interactions reiterated the importance of the European cross-border hydrogen network from the perspective of clean transition, regional vitality, and, taken more broadly, also society as a whole. Beyond pure energy concerns, hydrogen can be seen as an opportunity to boost both resilience and economy, which will have a positive impact on the future of Finland and Europe, too.

Hydrogen corridors will soon connect Europe

Cooperation between countries is critical in building a European hydrogen economy. Indeed, hydrogen corridors are emerging all around Europe, connecting countries and markets alike. At the Summit & Expo, an interesting update was given on how one of these projects, the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor (NBHC), is progressing.

NBHC is a joint project involving six European gas transmission system operators (TSOs): Gasgrid (Finland), Elering (Estonia), Conexus Baltic Grid (Latvia), Amber Grid (Lithuania), GAZ-SYSTEM (Poland), and ONTRAS (Germany). The NBHC project aims to diversify the European energy system, accelerate the integration of renewable energy, develop the market, and fortify energy security.

Joonas Laitila, leading the NBHC project at Gasgrid’s end, moderated the panel discussion, which included news about the progress of the project from Finland, Lithuania, and Germany. In his opening remarks, Laitila stated that the project is on track for Finland and that cooperation between the various parties keeps intensifying.

– The feasibility phase of the project is now underway. Initially, the focus is more on the technical aspects of the pipeline, and then, we move on to commercial assessment.

NBHC is an ambitious hydrogen infrastructure project involving six countries

The NBHC project will build a hydrogen transmission pipeline between Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany. The main idea of ​​the project is to promote the resilience of the energy system as well as to support renewable energy and energy self-sufficiency in the Baltic Sea region, in accordance with the EU hydrogen strategy.

Germany has been converting its existing natural gas network into a hydrogen network. Ralph Bahke, CEO of the German gas transmission company ONTRAS, confirmed that a significant part of Germany’s hydrogen network has already been built and filled with hydrogen. This development is a big confidence booster for the European hydrogen economy in the future as well.

By 2032, Germany aims to build over 9,000 kilometers of hydrogen network, of which about 60 percent comes from repurposing the old natural gas network.

“We have moved from hype to a realistic discussion,” Bahke said, adding that there is, indeed, a genuine, strong demand for hydrogen out there.

Tuukka Hartikka, Vice President – Hydrogen and Power to X at Helen, pointed out that in this type of alliance, the challenge is not only regulation and permits, but also aligning the timelines of different countries.

“We need to discuss our own schedules openly.” In addition, Hartikka talked about overcoming technical challenges which involve ensuring the quality of hydrogen as well as balancing the hydrogen system.

Construction may be the fastest phase – smart planning is critical

Nemunas Biknius, CEO of the Lithuanian gas transmission company Amber Grid, pointed out that the hydrogen network provides flexibility in itself:

– The hydrogen pipeline is also a hydrogen storage facility.

Biknius estimated that the most demanding part of the project may be reaching a consensus on financial conditions.

– In fact, the construction phase may be the fastest phase, he added.

Ralph Bahke confirmed his colleague’s view based on recent experiences in his native country: Germany took seven years to move from the original idea to the moment when hydrogen actually started to flow in the pipeline. The construction itself proceeded quickly.

– Careful planning is particularly critical for such a project.

Risks must be assessed sensibly and shared fairly

Senior Project Manager Georg Benhöfer from German gas wholesaler and importer VNG Handel & Vertrieb GmbH emphasized risk management and risk sharing in the NBHC project.

– The risks are enormous, especially at the beginning, when many things have to be implemented at the same time. Also, political decisions, in particular, take time.

Tuukka Hartikka pointed out that the current economic climate could be surprisingly favorable for hydrogen projects.

– This could be the perfect time to build, since labor and cheap steel are available, he said.

Ralph Bahke assessed that successful decarbonization in Europe requires also hydrogen. According to Bahke, Germany has shown the way by advancing from the PowerPoint stage to a functioning hydrogen system.

– This change is happening more slowly than we first estimated, but it will happen.

Launching ‘Call for Interest’ market survey

The implementation of NBHC is supported by a ‘Call for Interest’ market survey. In the survey, the project partners request information from various market participants on hydrogen production, consumption, storage, distribution, and cross-border flows in Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany. The information will be used in the project planning.

– The target group is hydrogen producers, users, and storage experts, as well as hydrogen distribution and transport systems, Joonas Laitila said.

The information will be collected from mid-January to the end of March.

And how is the NBHC project progressing in Laitila’s opinion? – Laitila stated that the most surprising thing about the infrastructure project so far has been how smoothly everything has been rolling onwards.

– We have truly had excellent cooperation, which is only getting deeper, he stated.

Nemunas Biknius, CEO of Amber Grid, fully agreed: the gas TSOs of the six countries have found a common voice and a common will.

– Now we just have to stick to the plan, and we will succeed.

Text: Sami Anteroinen Photos: Eino Ansio

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The concept of strategic resilience has become a permanent feature of the current energy sector debate. Olli Sipilä, CEO of the Finnish gas transmission company Gasgrid, states that forward-looking hydrogen investments contribute to the building of a more sustainable economy and a more robust nation.

In the field of energy, strategic resilience means that a country can deal with even the most exceptional circumstances. Such strength does not arise by chance, but, instead, requires long-term investment in self-sufficiency and preparedness, as well as the ability to keep asking: “What if…?”

– I would assess that the Baltic Sea and North Sea regions are in a particularly good position, in terms of strategic resilience, from the perspective of energy and raw material self-sufficiency. All the necessary, competitive resources can be found right here, Sipilä reflects.

According to Sipilä, in practice this means that while one particular region may have wind power assets, another region may have hydrogen production, for example. In addition, there must be industrial clients for hydrogen and its derivatives.

– Gasgrid is supporting Finland’s resilience and security of supply by building a sustainable energy system that ensures the availability of energy under any circumstance.

Markets can yet be found in unexpected directions. How long will it take, for example, until synthetic aviation fuel burns in the fuel tanks of European fighter jets – certainly a great added value product from a resilience perspective?

– This is but one example of what is possible in the future, Sipilä says, adding that technically there is already readiness to move on this.

Hydrogen is needed where electrification does not work

According to Sipilä, the Hydrogen Economy goes hand in hand with electrification. Both are needed, he says.

– There are still industries that find it difficult to use electricity rather than gases. When we have clean hydrogen made from renewable energy –as well as the further refined products – fossil fuels are replaced, just like with clean electricity, Sipilä points out.

Despite struggling in the throes of the 2022 energy crisis, Finland managed to implement the crucial Inkoo LNG terminal project quickly and decisively, an effort led by Gasgrid. For Sipilä, the success of the LNG terminal project provided an eye-opening reminder of the importance of having actual, physical assets in the energy sector.

– No plan or strategy can heat homes, charge mobile phones, or produce the chemicals that keep our drinking water clean. Only genuine assets and infrastructure can accomplish this, Sipilä says.

Finland is superbly positioned for clean hydrogen production

Sipilä believes that Finland is exceptionally well-positioned as a manufacturer of clean hydrogen that is produced from renewable energy.

– Finland is one of the most competitive countries when it comes to producing clean hydrogen, he points out.

Competitiveness is built on a few key elements. First of all, Finland has an efficient, low-emission energy system, which also provides a solid foundation for future growth.

– We have an overall energy system that is both reliable and balanced. We produce clean electricity for industrial use, and this is of great interest to international investors.

Secondly, renewable energy sources, primarily wind power, will be used to produce clean hydrogen in the future. According to Sipilä, Finland’s greatest economic growth potential in the 2030s is based on harnessing renewable energy and turning it into high-value investments.

– The Hydrogen Economy and its derivatives, such as e-methanol and e-ammonia, are significant drivers of this new growth. The international competition out there is fierce, but we have a great shot to make it.

Hydrogen network planning gains momentum

The third key competitive issue is infrastructure: the Finnish hydrogen network project, spearheaded by Gasgrid, covers over 1,300 kilometers of hydrogen pipeline.

– We already have this much in the permitting process, which contributes to the rapid scalability of hydrogen production and reduces the risk of serious disruptions, Sipilä analyzes. The relatively fast permitting processes actually constitute another Finnish strength in the hydrogen arena.

According to a recent Gasgrid market survey, parties interested in producing clean hydrogen have estimated that they will produce as much as 13 gigawatt-hours of hydrogen in the first phase, which is a very impressive figure if the plan is realized. At the same time, Gasgrid wants to link together all the “Hydrogen Valleys” of the future. They operate locally in interaction with hydrogen producers, consumers, and other actors in the same value chain. This allows all synergies in the hydrogen economy to be actively utilized.

Therefore, there is already a very attractive business case laid out for international investors. According to Sipilä, in the future, we will hopefully see a low-risk, high-predictability market, where infrastructure is developed in the long term. International cooperation will also improve the development of the downstream hydrogen industry in Finland.

– The essential question is: how do we move from goals to concrete actions that bring real impact? Gasgrid is ready to facilitate cooperation and create synergies to get the market moving.

Lead markets are critical growth engines

For hydrogen to gain a foothold in Europe, strong anchors are needed. Europe still imports 50-60 percent of its energy, mainly as fossil fuels. Sipilä emphasizes the creation of lead markets in critical areas:

– Hydrogen is well suited to sectors where it is difficult to replace fossil raw materials with electricity and where the product must be available without interruption, around the clock, and year-round. Demand for clean hydrogen is now being created precisely in these lead markets, which point the way for the evolution of the entire hydrogen market.

According to Sipilä, being an industry forerunner is not always easy, but an early bird investor can benefit significantly in this situation.

– Sometimes we forget this lesson. As the market will stabilize in the late 2030s, the hydrogen ecosystem has become mainstream, and such opportunities for trailblazers are no longer available. The best opportunities are out there right now, as investment conditions continue to improve and the market scales up.

Sipilä makes a reference to natural gas development in Norway: 50 years ago, the natural gas sector in Norway was practically non-existent.

– Today, it is a very large economic sector, bringing in very large export revenues and providing a solid strategic position for Norway as it guarantees, for its part, Europe’s self-sufficiency, competitiveness, and resilience. Finland has the potential for similar development.

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Text: Sami Anteroinen Photos: Eino Ansio

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The Hydrogen Summit & Expo brought a big group of energy experts to the Tampere Sports & Expo to start the year. Gasgrid also actively engaged in the conversation on topics such as the evolution of the Hydrogen Economy and international co-operation to make it happen. We asked Summit visitors what is so appealing about hydrogen, and in which direction the European hydrogen market is heading next.

The questions for interviewees:

1. Where do you see the greatest added value of hydrogen coming from in the future?
2. From the perspective of your organization, how important is the construction of a hydrogen pipeline in your country and connecting to a hydrogen network around Europe?
3. What expectations do you have regarding the development of hydrogen infrastructure and markets in the near future?
4. What insights and perspectives did you gain from the Expo?

Siim Iimre, gas and electricity transmission system operator Elering, Estonia

1. There has been a lot of talk about energy resilience at this seminar, and hydrogen is, indeed, strongly related to it, because it delivers flexibility to the energy sector. I think it is very important to bring this issue into the spotlight. Local production is absolutely essential for the energy of the future, and hydrogen plays a key role in this.
2. As the national gas TSO, Elering is planning its own hydrogen pipeline in Estonia and is having discussions with landowners and other stakeholders. This is a national project, but, at the same time, also part of the construction of the European hydrogen system. From our perspective, this is a very special, time-consuming process, in which we are placing great emphasis.
3. At Elering, we expect to start the hydrogen network permit process this year. It is a big milestone for us. We also expect that more wind and solar power will be available in Estonia in support of hydrogen production.
4. It’s great to be here in Tampere and to see what a great range of companies and other organizations are interested in hydrogen. Now I am even more convinced that the Hydrogen Economy has a lot to offer that will benefit us in the future.

Turo Laine, South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences Xamk, Kotka

1. If we think from Gasgrid’s perspective, then we see that supplying hydrogen safely and reliably, especially to large, industrial players, is certainly the make-or-break issue. When this is made to work, it will provide a powerful incentive for investments.
2. I run Xamk’s hydrogen research platform in Kotka, so I am very interested in the research that is being conducted involving hydrogen. Basically, it is very important – also from a research perspective – to have a strong vision for building a hydrogen infrastructure and utilizing hydrogen.
3. Over the next five years, we will hopefully see concise steps forward on the hydrogen front. Progress is partly made possible by the fact that there is quite a lot of funding available for hydrogen projects, including through the EU.
4. There were interesting discussions at the Summit & Expo. I noticed that there is a real need for the right kind of expertise now. There is also a lot of similar hydrogen-related research being done in different places, although it might be prudent to look at research topics a little more broadly. Collaboration could help determine who will study what.

Dovilė Binkevičienė, gas transmission system operator Amber Grid, Lithuania

1. Hydrogen’s greatest contribution will be as a targeted solution that complements electrification, enhances energy security, and accelerates Europe’s transition to a decarbonized economy.
2. We are committed to building the cross-border hydrogen infrastructure —the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor — with our partners. We want to unlock regional clean hydrogen production, enabling efficient transmission from production sites to demand centers, supporting energy decarbonization and export potential, and strengthening energy security. The pipeline is crucial for developing a competitive hydrogen market, stimulating investment, and contributing to EU renewable energy and energy independence goals.
3. In the near future, we expect hydrogen infrastructure and markets to develop step by step rather than overnight. For the NBHC project, the upcoming few years will be about conducting in-depth feasibility studies that examine the technical, economic, regulatory, and environmental aspects of building a large-scale hydrogen pipeline.
4. This is my first time at the Tampere Hydrogen Summit & Expo. The summit highlighted that the hydrogen sector in Northern Europe is progressing from ideas to concrete collaboration and project development. The event brought together key players across the hydrogen value chain — from producers and technology developers to investors and policymakers — reinforcing the notion that hydrogen is increasingly seen as a central element of the green energy transition.

Text: Sami Anteroinen Pictures: Eino Ansio

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