Gasgrid – Enabler of future energy solutions 12.5.2025 Finland is transitioning towards a carbon-neutral future. A core element of this transition is the multi-gas system that enables the use of clean gases, such as hydrogen, synthetic methane and biogas, and in this way supports sustainable development and secure supply of energy. The multi-use capability makes gases an attractive alternative for industry, transportation, electricity production and heating of real estate. Gasgrid is a state-owned company responsible for gas transmission in Finland. Gasgrid’s activities and strategic decisions are steered by its values, customer orientation, reliability and cost-effectiveness. The cooperation between Gasgrid and Fingrid has a key role in the development of Finland’s energy system. Cooperation is also key in the development of the multi-gas system with municipalities, industry, research institutions and government authorities. The investments in hydrogen economy will drive significant economic growth in Finland over the coming decades. The electric and gas infrastructure is one of the factors that affect companies’ decisions when planning their investments in the new value chains of hydrogen economy. The national hydrogen infrastructure offers solutions that help ease price volatility in the electricity market. The development of facilities for the production and downstream processing of hydrogen is based on regional strengths. The hydrogen infrastructure will spawn large regional hydrogen valleys that will maintain and reinforce the existing heavy industry. Gasgrid’s strategy focuses on driving clean growth and security in Finland by leveraging the full potential of hydrogen economy. Our hydrogen infrastructure expertise and the existing infrastructure will enable the efficient transfer and distribution of gases. Our commitment to sustainable development and customer orientation ensure that Finland is ready to meet the future energy solutions. We believe that the hydrogen infrastructure will bring substantial benefits and few disadvantages to municipalities, with minimal impacts caused by construction. We will update all stakeholders on the progress of hydrogen projects. Virve Wright The author is Gasgrid’s Senior Vice President of Communications, Sustainability and Public Relations. This article was originally published as an editorial in the magazine Kasvusanomat, published by Gasgrid in April.
Hydrogen infrastructure construction across Finland is a massive national project – how does environmental impact assessment fit into the big picture? 7.4.2025 Minna Takalo, Senior Inspector at the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) for North Ostrobothnia has been involved – in one role or another – in nearly 200 environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedures during her career. “Although I’ve now been in official duties for more than two years, I’m also familiar with EIA procedures from the consulting side, where I worked for about 15 years.” The ELY Centre for North Ostrobothnia currently has a large number of renewable energy projects undergoing the EIA procedure – perhaps, Takalo estimates, the largest number of EIA projects in the whole country: more than 40 projects are currently underway in the area of the ELY Centre for North Ostrobothnia. “Most of the EIA projects are wind power projects and associated power transmission plans. When we reach a reasoned conclusion at the end of an EIA, it triggers the initiation of new EIA procedures,” Takalo says, admitting that the authority’s human resources are now tight. EIA Directive in the background picture “Not all construction is subject to an EIA procedure. The list of projects in the EIA Act defines the types of project and project transboundaries to which the EIA procedure must be applied. Our national EIA Act is based on the EU EIA Directive,” Takalo says. “Projects that are included in the list of projects in the EIA Act are basically planning projects that are likely to have significant environmental impacts and therefore need to be assessed and possibly mitigated.” “When done well, the EIA procedure serves the planning of the project. This means that an EIA should be carried out at an early stage of the project,” Takalo says. An ELY Centre is tasked with ensuring that an EIA is carried out in a project that by law requires an EIA procedure. In addition to the cases on the list of projects, an EIA can also be carried out on a discretionary case-by-case basis. “In these cases, too, an ELY Centre is responsible for considering and deciding on the need to apply an EIA, in consultation also with other authorities.” Weighing up nature values So how deep does a typical EIA procedure dive into the environment and nature? Takalo replies that before an impact assessment, “people get their boots on” and establish the existing state of the project’s impact area and examine the nature values that may be affected by the project. “An expert carries out impact assessments based on the surveys and other information prepared in the field,” the senior inspector says. The EIA procedure involves taking into account and applying several laws, regulations and guideline values. One such factor is the compliance or non-compliance with the Nature Conservation Act – and how this will be addressed in further planning and licensing stages. “This is why, when carried out well, the EIA procedure is a great tool for a project.” Engage stakeholders! “One of the most important goals of the EIA is participation. Stakeholder identification and engagement is part of the EIA procedure,” Takalo points out. ”Stakeholders always depend on the project type and location.” How are stakeholders consulted in practice? Takalo says that where a project is subject to an EIA procedure, this includes the consultation stages relating to the assessment programme and the assessment report. The ELY centre is the competent authority in the EIA procedure and responsible for ensuring that these stages are announced and that an opportunity for comments is provided. “Public events are usually held in both stages. The party responsible for the project organises follow-up group events, where they can also present their perspectives,” Takalo says. In projects subject to EIA, the ELY Centre officially receives feedback after consultation on the EIA programme and EIA report. The statement issued by the ELY Centre is also partly based on the feedback received. — EIA timeline The EIA procedure typically begins with a voluntary, but well-established preliminary prior consultation that brings together the authorities as defined in section 8 of the EIA Act. The EIA procedure officially begins once the party responsible for the project submits the EIA programme to the ELY Centre. The studies and impact assessments presented in the EIA programme are presented later in the EIA report, on which the ELY centre as the competent authority issues its statutory reasoned conclusion. — Where can residents in the area find out about the EIA procedure? Under the EIA procedure, the assessment programme and the assessment report must be announced in at least one newspaper published in the area affected by the project. In addition, the announcements are available on the official notification channels of the municipality in which they are located and on the central government’s EIA website. In the announcement, the ELY centre will point out the means and deadline for submitting comments. “Every citizen has the right to give their opinion on the project during the EIA consultation process. There may also be other opportunities to influence the planning of the project, and these are provided by the party responsible for the project separately outside of the EIA procedure,” Minna Takalo says. One important purpose of an EIA is to share and acquire information through engagement. “If anyone is interested or concerned about the project in any way, public events and any follow-up groups or other information sessions will provide information and should provide answers to any questions,” Takalo says. A representative of the ELY Centre, as the authority, participates in public events as the chair and as a neutral party that is present to listen to citizens’ concerns or views on the project. At the events, the party responsible for the project and the EIA consultant answer questions about the project and impact assessments.
Hydrogen projects acceptable, even desirable 7.4.2025 In February, the Nordic Hydrogen Week attracted dozens of international speakers and hundreds of hydrogen industry actors and other interested parties to Oulu. Topical speeches and crowning news at the event made many cheer: the hydrogen economy is becoming a reality. As the Northern Power Business Forum, the main event of the Hydrogen Week and held on the last day, kicked off, a happy buzz of chatter could be heard in the Tullisali event centre in Oulu. More than 400 participants were present, not only from the Nordic countries, but also from elsewhere in Europe. The atmosphere was an enthusiastic one. During the two days, good speeches had been heard and productive discussions had been held. Fittingly, the previous day coincided with news of the start-up of PX2 Solutions’ hydrogen plant in Harjavalta. Local news was the highlight on the last day. The City of Oulu and the French company Verso Energy have signed a cooperation agreement with the aim of building Finland’s largest hydrogen plant in Oulu. “There is now everything to look forward to,” summed up a couple of listeners in the audience. Meetups and the latest information Hydrogen research, the social acceptance of renewable energy projects, Nordic cooperation and hydrogen projects were the main topics of the Hydrogen Week in Oulu. Janne Hietaniemi, Key Account Director at BusinessOulu, which was the lead organiser of the event, says the Hydrogen Week has provided the international audience with a lot of good meetups and relevant information. Finland, Sweden and Norway face similar challenges related to the acceptability of hydrogen projects. These often involve energy production and electricity distribution needs, as well as land use. In Oulu, Nordic actors shared their best practices and learnings. The discussions emphasised the importance of interaction and cooperation at both the local and national levels. Cooperation between the countries was considered important in order to ensure security of supply. Room for both: hydrogen and willow tits The opportunities brought about by the hydrogen economy in the northern region had already been examined during the week, with numerous speeches and lively discussions. Elina Mäki, RDI Project Manager at Gasgrid, was at the round table in the hydrogen impact forum. Discussion themes were sustainable infrastructure construction, justness and local impacts. The inspiring discussion continued as an audience event. There was a lively exchange of words about the climate benefits and the harm to biodiversity resulting from construction. The justness discussion also talked about fauna, such as the now-endangered willow tit. The conclusion was that the potential of hydrogen can be harnessed to double the population of willow tits, if that is what is wanted. Another conclusion was that a shared knowledge base facilitates stakeholder interaction and cooperation. Knowledge needed at an early stage Perhaps the most important discussion of the Hydrogen Week was about the social acceptance of hydrogen projects and getting municipal residents involved in projects at an early stage. “I talked to many people about the topic. The need for information emerged. People must have up-to-date and correct information about hydrogen projects so that no one falls behind. When people have enough information, they also have the right basis for making decisions. Hydrogen projects need social acceptance. This avoids ending up in long cycles of appeals,” says Elina Mäki at Gasgrid. Mäki also raised the key role that municipalities have in taking hydrogen projects forward. “Municipalities can bring different actors together and ensure information is shared. Municipalities are responsible for statutory land use planning, which involves both the approval of projects and the siting of hydrogen plants.” Gasgrid is doing its part to promote hydrogen products and share information. “Our role is to share information, especially from a research perspective. We are cooperating extensively with companies and municipalities in order for timely factual information to advance hydrogen development at the national level. For example, we have published route plans for the hydrogen infrastructure in which municipal decision-makers have been involved,” Mäki explains. The hydrogen infrastructure EIA process will get underway in the spring. In this context, Gasgrid Finland will be conducting a lot of consultations in the areas to give landowners, for example, an opportunity to comment on the plans.. Broader discussion yet to come Minna Näsman, an expert in challenging projects and situations, was one of the top experts at the Hydrogen Week. She is involved in the sustainable development JusthH2Transit project, which examines how to make the hydrogen transition just in terms of both climate and other sustainability aspects. Like Mäki, Näsman emphasises the importance of social acceptance. “The hydrogen transition will not go anywhere at all if its local phenomena, i.e. projects, are not accepted,” she says. Project researchers have mapped hydrogen-related editorial material published by three major newspapers as well as the hydrogen discussion. “The hydrogen discussion is positive. We were struck by how conspicuous the questions were by their absence. During the Hydrogen Week in Oulu, Professor Eva Pongratz from the University of Oulu gave a presentation on the topic. If the hydrogen transition proceeds without discussion, the transition may get stuck in resistance simply because people have been unable to ask and hear answers that satisfy them. That’s when people feel like protesting. Minna Näsman’s interpretation is that the hydrogen transition has been promoted by hydrogen advocates, but that a broader discussion has not yet got underway. Reliable knowledge base for discussion The Hydrogen Impact Forum concept, developed by the Just Transition project, has been implemented once in Pori, and now in Oulu. It brings together the different perspectives necessary for the implementation of hydrogen projects. All events will be attended by representatives of organisations that raise the perspective of nature. “We are careful to ensure that discussion are not just limited to hydrogen investors and leading local government officials. We also need to involve people who do not yet know what the hydrogen economy means and what lies ahead, but who know a great deal about their own environment,” Minna Näsman says. The researcher found the discussion in Oulu interesting and rewarding, because there was a broad crowd of listeners. “People had not yet become entrenched, but were able to discuss different perspectives. There were also people present who were immediately able to correct misconceptions and provide corroborating background information.” Minna Näsman hopes that the multi-perspective discussion will continue as this creates resources to solve problems as well. “Key players need a common negotiating table. Besides which, a lot of open and participatory civil dialogue is needed based on a reliable knowledge base. If there is insufficient information, the vacuum can easily be filled with fear and disinformation. Even with hybrid operations, if things go badly. Even sleeping bears have woken up The outcome of the Hydrogen Week in Oulu is clear: hydrogen development will not stop there, but take new leaps forward. The Norwegian participants sent a strong message to other participants at the Hydrogen Week. High-quality information provided at an early stage is also valuable in terms of the success of hydrogen projects and market access, i.e. financially. Minna Näsman sums up: “We want high-quality interaction at an early stage to be the new normal. Now we have to have the courage to wake up the sleeping bears and have a conversation with them. In the best-case scenario, the hydrogen economy will become not only acceptable, but even desirable. — Nordic Hydrogen Week Nordic Hydrogen Week took place in Oulu 11-13 February in Oulu, Finland. The largest international hydrogen event in Northern Finland. Main topics during the hydrogen week: hydrogen research, social acceptance of renewable energy projects, Nordic cooperation and Nordic hydrogen projects. The week’s main event: Northern Power Business Forum on 13 February, which had 35 speakers and attracted more than 400 participants from different countries. Hydrogen Week was organised by BusinessOulu and CleanTech Oulu, together with their partners: Oulun Energia, Gasgrid, Finpec, OX2, H2Cluster Finland, Resato Hydrogen Technology, Nordion Energy, Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture, Oulun Kärpät and Kaleva. More information at www.gasgrid.fi, www.businessoulu.com
Norwegian Freija wants to build its first-ever eMethane plant in Nokia, Finland 31.3.2025 Norwegian energy company Freija AS is planning large-scale clean fuel production in the Tampere region in order to decarbonize heavy duty transport across Europe. We asked Freija’s CEO how the project – one of the biggest of its kind in Europe – is progressing – and why the company wanted to establish its key operations in Finland? Freija is planning to make eMethane at scale from clean hydrogen and biogenic CO2 based on a cost competitive, proprietary and modularized solution with an integrated electrolyser facility. Freija’s CEO Kristian Hauglum says that the company wants to meet the strong demand for eMethane brought about by EU directives – and according to Hauglum, Finland is the best place to accomplish this. – When we started looking for a location for our production plant, Finland soon stood out from the rest, in many ways, Hauglum says. – First of all, the Finnish government’s goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is ambitious, and it offers green industry players strong and predictable operating conditions, fossil-free energy and a very well-trained workforce. The power grid provides high performance and the gas pipeline is connected to Europe, thanks to Gasgrid, he lists. Eye on Tampere Region The Tampere Region was eventually chosen since it provides considerable scaling opportunities, offering, among other things, biogenic carbon dioxide capture, renewable energy and capable local partners. – Biogenic CO2, especially produced by the modern Finnish forest industry, is a commodity with high market potential, Hauglum believes. Upon construction, the plant will bring significant investments to the region and create jobs. At the same time, it will enable relevant reductions in CO2 emissions in European traffic. So what is the status of the project right now? – Hauglum says that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) program has been initiated, and the company has kicked off also front-end engineering and design studies. – The final investment decision will be made in the third quarter of 2026, he adds. The value of the would-be investment is around 400-500 million euros. Production start in four years? The project is planned to be implemented in three phases. The production capacity, per phase, is 58,000 tons of renewable eMethane. – Production in the first phase of the plant could start in 2029, CEO Hauglum says. Hauglum believes that Freija has a great shot of success with its eMethane plans. After all, the European heavy transport and shipping companies are increasing demand for eMethane as they strive to reduce emissions and comply with EU regulations. Clean fuels such as eMethane are carbon-neutral alternatives to fossil fuels in trucking and as fuel for ships. – Freija has already signed several cooperation agreements with various partners, covering 60% of the capacity of the first phase. Negotiations are underway for more, reveals Hauglum. Multi-gas platform emerging eMethane is a ready-to-use renewable fuel of non-biological origin (RFNBO) and a direct replacement for fossil gas, using existing technology and infrastructure including direct injection into the European natural gas grid. For this reason, Gasgrid is one of Freija’s core strategic partners. – Gasgrid is very important to us. The company has been very open and cooperative towards us from the start, Hauglum says. The CEO emphasizes the substantial competitive advantage that Gasgrid’s multi-gas network enables. – We have an efficient way to deliver our product, he sums up. Today, transport represents 16% of global CO2 emissions. The eMethane from one of Freija’s plants will enable removal of 200,000 tons of carbon annually when replacing fossil fuels. Room to expand later The selected site covers 15 hectares, with the potential to expand nearby. Power grid development is ongoing in cooperation with local transmission system operators. Freija is also looking to generate excessive heat which will feed into the Tampere Region district heating system, adding further positive local ripple effects. Hauglum believes that the main challenge of the project is to bring many separate issues – ranging from gas and power connectivity to CO2 capture – together in a smart and sustainable way. He is, however, confident that Freija and her partners are able to make it work. – The total package is there – and that’s the reason we wanted to come to Finland in the first place.
Norsk e-Fuel wants to make next-gen aviation fuel in Rauma, Finland 31.3.2025 Norwegian e-fuel specialist Norsk e-Fuel is planning to expand its operations to Finland. The company – now investing abroad for the first time ever – has reserved a 14-hectare land area in Rauma on the western coast of Finland. Together with the energy company Fortum and the Port of Rauma, Norsk e-Fuel will now start with electricity grid connection planning and permitting processes to establish an e-Fuel production facility in Rauma. In cooperation with Fortum and the Port of Rauma, Norsk e-Fuel will begin the planning of the area’s electricity connections and the permit processes for establishing an e-fuel production plant. The project is also the first outside Norway as the company expands its operations in Northern Europe. By entering into a strategic partnership agreement with Fortum for site development, Norsk e-Fuel has secured sufficient space for an e-Fuel plant with an annual production volume of up to 100 million litres. Most of the product will be refined into synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) to provide fossil-free fuels to the aviation industry. – We are currently working on the permits and detailed project plans for the project. One aspect of this is our work to prepare for the Environmental Impact Assessment, says Karl Hauptmeier, CEO of Norsk e-Fuel. Wanted: Sustainable power According to the CEO, Finland offers a unique combination of advantages for the e-Fuel industry – one of them being power. – Finland has one of the cleanest grids in Europe and is continuing to have significant investments in new clean power generation. This, in addition to past and planned major investments in the transmission grid, offers great potential for energy-intensive industries, he says. Hauptmeier notes that it is not only the aspect of power that made the company expand into Finland. – The potential of approximately 24,4 million tons of bio-based CO2 ready for capture, access to well-developed transportation infrastructure and a strong workforce of highly educated people made the decision easy for us. Teaming up with Boeing The Rauma site can play an important role in increasing the supply of eSAF across Europe. EU regulations require aviation fuel suppliers to gradually increase the share of eSAF blended with conventional aviation fuel at EU airports, starting with a blending obligation of 1,2% in 2030 and rising to 35% by 2050. Given the energy-intensive nature of eSAF production, reliable grid connection and availability of clean power are essential. Boeing and Norsk e-Fuel have just announced that they will start developing aviation fuels together. What’s the significance of this move? – Boeing’s investment is supporting our entire project pipeline and this includes Rauma, Hauptmeier says. Targeting performance Finnish energy company Fortum is committed to promoting Green Transition – and the company has its own unit that helps industry players find suitable plots for their operations. Jyrki Holappa, head of Fortum’s Customer Site Development team, says that cooperation with Norsk e-Fuel began in autumn 2023. – Our attention was soon drawn to the Rauma Port area, and we recognized that there was potential here, Holappa explains. The land in question is partly owned by the Port of Rauma. The land is mainly owned by the City of Rauma and leased to the port. – In order to enable new operations, the plot needs development in terms of both zoning and power issues, but the overall situation is solid, due to the logistical connections offered by the port. Gas network is crucial Gasgrid is a very important partner for Fortum. – Building a hydrogen network is an undertaking with great national significance. Gases are needed in the Green Transition, Holappa says. Holappa says that, ultimately, Fortum always wants to champion the cause of decarbonization. In terms of regional development, this means a variety of things, from production plants to data centers: – Our focus is on large, power-intensive projects where we can genuinely help our customers, Holappa concludes.
What on earth is a multi-gas platform – and why is it revolutionising Finnish society? 21.2.2025 Gasgrid is building a solid foundation for a low-emission, multi-gas platform. The multi-gas platform means that going forward Gasgrid’s pipelines will transport not only conventional natural gas, biogas and liquefied natural gas (LNG), but also hydrogen and synthetic methane (e-methane), which, in addition to biogas, are low or zero emission gases. A multi-gas platform is needed as society is undergoing an accelerating transformation towards emission-free forms of energy and Finland aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2035. “Our job is to adapt the market model in response to the needs and requirements of an ever-evolving gas market and our customers. The market model must take into account the different gases that are transported in our pipelines and that the model creates the conditions for a functioning gas market,” says Mika Myötyri, Head of Market and Customers at Gasgrid. “In addition, the development trend of the energy market needs to be considered.” Janne Grönlund, SVP, Gas Business at Gasgrid, says that a multi-gas platform creates value for market participants – and more broadly for society. “System flexibility is largely due to the fact that the gas infrastructure itself is also a 60 GWh energy storage facility,” says Grönlund. By way of comparison, the Loviisa nuclear power plant, when operating at full power, produces the same amount of electricity in about two and a half days.” Breakthrough of synthetic methane? One concrete example of this breakthrough is synthetic methane (e-methane), which is identical in structure to natural gas. However, synthetic methane outperforms conventional natural gas in meeting CO2 targets because it is produced using emission-free hydrogen and carbon dioxide captured from flue gases or air. “Synthetic methane use could increase 20 to 30 times from current levels in a few years,” Myötyri says. Demand is being driven by sea vessels and heavy-duty transport, for example. Grönlund, too, believes in the potential of synthetic methane. “There are already plenty of reserves and injection into the pipeline system is also effortless.” Eventful decade Much has happened in the industry in a short time. On 1 January 2020, the Finnish natural gas market was opened up to competition when Gasgrid took over responsibility for gas transmission in Finland. The vast majority of gas buyers are wholesale customers, i.e. large and medium-sized industrial companies, district heating and electricity companies, district heating companies and local distribution and power companies. “A major share of gas trade is bilateral on the Finnish gas market. Besides bilateral trading, gas can be purchased on the GET Baltic gas exchange,” Myötyri explains. The target schedule is for the GET Baltic gas exchange to be replaced by the European Energy Exchange (EEX) from the end of May.” The gas transmission capacity will be reserved separately from Finland’s transmission system operator, i.e. Gasgrid. “Our customers can buy capacity, or the right to have gas transported, in our pipeline via our customer portal,” Myötyri says. Balticconnector, the gas pipeline interconnecting Finland and Estonia, is also a fairly recent event. Since the start of 2020, Finnish gas users have, through Balticconnector, been able to buy gas from the Baltic states, from the Klaipeda LNG terminal, the largest gas reserve in Latvia, or from Europe through the Gas interconnection pipeline between Poland and Lithuania (GIPL). Balticconnector has thus opened up several alternatives for Finnish gas users to purchase their gas. “The reserve facility in Latvia can hold more gas than Finland uses in a year,” Myötyri visualises. Mika Myötyri, Head of Market and Customers. Municipalities on a new playing field How does a multi-gas platform serve Finnish companies and municipalities then?– Myötyri says that municipalities for example can benefit from the new age of multi-gases in a couple of ways. “Firstly, there are plans for production facilities for gases, such as biogas or e-methane, in municipalities across Finland. When completed, these will bring jobs and tax revenue to the municipality.” Similarly, on the use side, there is new industrial potential as clean, “zero-carbon” gases in particular take over. “For example, a local chemical industry actor will have access to a secure supply of emission-free gas, flexibly and quickly,” Myötyri explains. Not just a playground for giants Myötyri says that the great thing about a multi-gas platform is that it serves both large and small market participants and end users. The multi-gas platform connects numerous points of gas production and consumption, offering gas users alternatives to run their business where gas creates value in their operations. ”The platform is able to respond to even big changes in power demand. Our multi-purpose platform is already creating huge value for Finland. Janne Grönlund points out that the important role of the multi-gas platform in balancing the electricity market has not yet been fully taken on board. “The security and stability of supply that gases will bring is not yet fully understood. But the electricity system is very sensitive and needs to be balanced – and gases will help a lot.” — How is the origin of gases certified? Gasgrid acts as the register of guarantees of origin for gas and hydrogen and is authorised to issue both national and European EECS (European Energy Certificate Systems) guarantees of origin. The guarantee of origin of gases certifies that clean gases, such as biogas and hydrogen, are produced from renewable energy sources. The purpose of guarantees of origin is to ensure that consumers can have confidence in the origin of the energy they buy. They serve as proof that the amount of clean gases or hydrogen corresponding to the guarantees of origin issued has been produced from renewable energy sources. “Gasgrid is interested in creating the conditions for an emerging clean gas market and facilitating the path towards this important goal. The clean gas market offers significant growth opportunities for Finland,” Mika Myötyri says. Read more: Gas provides regulating power – and much more
Gas provides regulating power – and much more 19.2.2025 From industry to transport and from energy production to cooking, gases have become integrated into Finnish society in ways we don’t always think about. We asked Janne Grönlund, SVP, Gas Business at Gasgrid, about everything that is done with gases today – and above all: what the visions are for the future. Gases play a major role in industry – what gases are most used in industry? Firstly, natural gas is widely used in industrial processes. It lends itself to processes where high temperatures, rapid controllability and avoidance of contaminants are required. Natural gas is also used as a feedstock for hydrogen production. Hydrogen, in turn, is used as a raw material in oil refining and other chemical processes. Hydrogen is also used in some processes in the steel and forestry industries. Hydrogen can also be used to produce synthetic methane or e-methane, a strongly rising gas. In addition, there are already dozens of domestic biogas plants in Finland producing renewable gas and increasing Finland’s energy self-sufficiency, and the number continues to grow. Tell us a bit more about which industrial sectors use gases The chemical and forestry industries are main industrial users of natural gas in Finland. In the forest industry, gas is used for drying paper and other energy production required by the mill. In metal processing, gas is suitable for many process steps from smelting to tempering. Other industrial applications for gas include the food industry, clay and glass industries, asphalt industry, laundries and the cement industry. Steel and batteries at least are among new emerging industries in the use of gases. Many people still don’t quite understand why gases are so important to Finland’s overall energy system A multi-gas platform provides weather-independent, rapidly adjustable and, if desired, fossil-free support for Finnish electricity generation capacity when it is needed most. This is typically in winter, with severe frosts and little help from wind or solar power production. Gas can respond to rapid changes in the electricity market, as existing gas-fired production can be started up in a matter of hours. An example of this The first week of January in 2024 was just such a tight spot, with a windless, cold snap. We have calculated that during that week, the combined value to the economy of the gas system and the Inkoo LNG floating terminal was between €1.5 billion and €3 billion. The electricity production capacity of over 1 000 MW enabled by the gas system approaches that of Olkiluoto 3. At a practical level, engine power plants are used to smooth out such a “frost peak” Today, electricity production connected to the gas system is based on combined heat and power (CHP). CHP plants are rapidly being joined by engine power plants, which can already produce electricity with an efficiency of over 50%. Gas engines range from one to several dozen in a single power plant, with unit sizes ranging from kilowatts to around ten megawatts. A gas engine is efficient: its start-up time is calculated in minutes and its regulating time in seconds. New gas engine power plants can be added to the existing gas system to support electricity sufficiency and the function of the overall energy system in Finland. The “secret weapon” of the gas system is that the gas pipeline also acts as an energy storage facility – what does this mean? Yes. The gas infrastructure in itself is a 60 GWh (equivalent to the annual consumption of 3,000 electrically heated single-family homes) energy storage facility, the properties of which can also be used to respond to the flexibility needs of the electricity market. Besides this, there’s also the Hamina LNG terminal (200 GWh), the Inkoo LNG terminal (almost 1,000 GWh) and the supporting gas reserves in Latvia (up to 25,000 GWh). Gases are also entering the transport sector in force – why? Decarbonising transport requires a switch to cleaner fuels and propulsion systems – and options such as biogas, LNG and hydrogen provide an opportunity to reduce carbon emissions. Solutions are available for both land and maritime transport. And let’s not forget that many Finnish homes are also heated by natural gas or biogas We have long known that gas has many uses in buildings: in addition to heating, it can be used for cooking, for example. Gas lends itself to heating in places where there is access to a gas distribution network. Quite a renaissance seems to be ongoing in gas production and use – what’s your own view? The energy revolution is exerting heavy pressure, and we see gases playing a key role in enabling the important developments underway. The past five years have seen more changes in gases than ever before, creating a good platform for further development. We can support the green transition in a reliable and sustainable way through a multi-gas platform. Janne Grönlund, SVP, Gas Business at Gasgrid provided answers to the questions. — Brief history of the gas market – Finland’s gas market was opened up to competition in 2020 – Opening of the Balticconnector gas pipeline connected Finland to the Baltic gas market – Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ended imports of pipeline gas from Russia in May 2022 – Hamina LNG terminal completed in autumn 2022 – Inkoo floating LNG terminal started operating in early 2023 – Gas interconnection pipeline between Poland and Lithuania (GIPL) connected Finland and the Baltic states to the Central European gas infrastructure – nowadays, all the natural gas used in Finland is imported as LNG through Finnish LNG terminals and the Klaipeda LNG terminal in Lithuania – gas infrastructure is needed to enable Finland to serve the need for gas in industry and in energy production, and to support the integration of clean gases – hydrogen and synthetic methane (e-methane) are at the forefront of clean gases and subject to great expectations
Hydrogen will put bread on the table 4.2.2025 More than a thousand kilometres of hydrogen gas pipeline will provide employment opportunities for skilled welders for years to come. Finland wants to take an ambitious leap to the hydrogen economy. The hydrogen economy could give the country a billion euro boost and create jobs for as many as 100,000 people – in addition to this, of course, hydrogen is an important part of the green transition and the shift away from fossil fuels. But what does all this mean in practice? The Finnish Government’s decision in principle in 2023 aims for Finland to have a leading position in the hydrogen economy, producing 10% of the EU’s clean hydrogen. The Finnish Government has given Gasgrid the task of promoting the development of the national hydrogen infrastructure, international infrastructure cooperation, and the hydrogen market in the Baltic Sea region. Gasgrid is currently studying routing options for the hydrogen infrastructure and hydrogen transport needs in the Baltic Sea region. The construction project ahead is enormous. Finland’s national hydrogen infrastructure will comprise more than 1,000 kilometres of gas pipelines – and because it’s hydrogen, the safety requirements are a couple of notches stricter than with, say, natural gas. Hydrogen is a small molecule gas known to cause hydrogen embrittlement in all materials – will carbon steel pipes be resistant to it? We’ll manage with hydrogen Marko Ikävalko, Head of Operations and Maintenance at Gasgrid, says that hydrogen embrittlement is not a problem as long as the impacts of the properties of hydrogen under operating conditions are understood: “In addition to hydrogen quality, the choice of material for the hydrogen pipeline should take into account the operating pressure, and the range and magnitude of pressure fluctuation,” Ikävalko says. How hydrogen affects materials depends on many things – in the case of steel, factors other than pressure include microstructure, grain size, alloys and ambient temperature. Gasgrid has yet to decide the most appropriate steel grade for the hydrogen transmission pipeline, which will be around 1 metre in diameter. “Before making an actual decision, we will consider all matters related to the lifecycle and safe use of the transmission pipeline,” Ikävalko says. Zero leaks But no matter how robust the hydrogen pipeline is, the joints and welding seams can be tricky: will they hold under all possible conditions? Since hydrogen is a familiar gas in the process industry, suitable connecting methods are available,” Ikävalko says. “All joints used in the future pipeline will be suitable for use with hydrogen,” he adds. Gasgrid’s policy is that an integral, welded pipeline does not leak. “The basis is that all the joints are so well constructed that there are no leaks. Supervision during construction and inspection by non-destructive testing (NDT) will ensure that the joints hold,” Ikävalko says. “The transmission pipeline joints will be done mostly by welding,” he adds. Work for welders! Once work starts on building the hydrogen infrastructure around Finland, skilled workers will be needed – and of course welders. Gasgrid has no installation and construction teams of its own and will use tendering process to secure contractors,” says Ossi Falck, Head of Project Offices at Gasgrid. “The project will require welders to have specialist skills and to work outdoors in varying weather conditions,” Falck says, adding that because of the great need, it is likely that professional welders will need to also be sought outside of Finland. “Welders must meet the qualification requirements for the project, as must installation and construction companies, he says. The actual installation and construction process will follow the method of laying natural gas transmission pipelines. Pipe sections of 12-18 metres in length are welded together at the construction site before being lifted into a trench dug for that purpose: work then starts on joining the pipe sections to each other by welding. “Quality assurance of the welding seams is an important part of the process,” Falck says. — Brief lesson on the hydrogen economy – the hydrogen economy will have an employment impact of as many as 100,000 jobs – the hydrogen economy will improve Finland’s energy independence and security of supply – Gasgrid has been mandated by the Finnish Government to develop the national hydrogen infrastructure, to engage in cross-border infrastructure cooperation and to support the development of the hydrogen market in the Baltic Sea region – Finland’s national hydrogen infrastructure will comprise around 1,000 kilometres of onshore gas pipeline. In addition, international offshore pipeline connections will be built for hydrogen transmission – Gasgrid aims for the hydrogen market and infrastructure to be up and running in Finland in the first half of the 2030s – the plan is to initiate hydrogen infrastructure licence procedures this year – Gasgrid is currently working with international partners to promote three cross-border hydrogen infrastructure projects in the Baltic Sea region: the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor, Baltic Sea Hydrogen Collector and the Nordic Hydrogen Route Read more: Olli Sipilä at Gasgrid: Building the hydrogen infrastructure is a major national project, which will create wellbeing for decades to come Environmental impact assessment is an important anchor in hydrogen infrastructure design Gasgrid invites municipalities and regional actors to partner in developing the national hydrogen infrastructure
Building the hydrogen infrastructure is a major national project, which will create wellbeing for decades to come 24.1.2025 https://gasgrid.fi/wp-content/uploads/Gasgrid_V4_Eng_sub.mp4 The great energy revolution is challenging all actors in the sector. One of the agents of change is Gasgrid, which is responsible for building the national hydrogen infrastructure to accelerate clean economic growth. According to a government decision in principle, Finland aims for a leading position in the hydrogen economy in Europe. At the same time, the benefits of other clean gases have begun to be increasingly apparent. Gasgrid’s CEO Olli Sipilä notes that when fossil fuels are replaced large scale, a new kind of “interconnecting infrastructure” will be needed. “There are always ups and downs and uncertainties in transition, but the direction is clear,” he says. “We Finns have permission to try and permission to succeed when the baselines are good.” Hydrogen is hard to beat when energy needs to be transported effectively over long distances. “A 1-metre diameter hydrogen pipe can replace as many as 15 large power lines,” is the comparison Sipilä makes. No time – yet zero emissions are a way off Back in the day, transitions to coal and oil took place over several decades – whereas the current transition to zero emissions needs to take place about three times faster than previous energy transitions. To reach climate targets, zero-emission hydrogen is needed in Finland and in Europe in those places where electricity is not the solution. “It is against this backdrop that Gasgrid is responsible for developing the national hydrogen infrastructure, international infrastructure cooperation and the hydrogen market in Finland and the surrounding area. The objective is to create good and predictable investment conditions in Finland for hydrogen production and for the downstream industry using it. A key role in all this is to create a genuine multi-gas platform,” Sipilä says. “The multi-gas platform will draw on all the expertise that our organisation has accumulated in gases over a very long time,” says Sipilä, who has served as Gasgrid’s CEO since the company was established in 2020. Excellence in the gas industry is a strength The multi-gas platform means that in the future, some of Gasgrid’s pipelines will transport hydrogen and perhaps even carbon dioxide in addition to conventional natural gas, biogas, synthetic methane and LNG. These gases contrast greatly with natural gas, for example, since they are low- or zero-emission gases. “We are already world-class in terms of reliability and safety with regard to methane. The hydrogen side on the other hand is based on our solid gas expertise, which we are now extending to hydrogen.” New solutions are currently being explored for biogases and synthetic methane, for example, to get the gas to flow in the pipeline. “One possibility for market participants is the use of tanks. Plans are already underway with customers to enable this,” Sipilä says. Carbon dioxide can also be captured from factory smoke stacks and transported through pipes for downstream processing. “Carbon capture can be used to produce, for example, synthetic methanol,” Sipilä says. Three aspects of the hydrogen revolution The priority on the CEO’s desk is overall development of the energy system to deliver economic growth, security and other strategic benefits for Finland through gases. Gasgrid will continue to develop the methane system, for example to benefit industry and the electricity system. The latest fastest developing area is the promotion of the hydrogen infrastructure and market through substantial measures. According to Sipilä, this requires focusing on three things simultaneously to maximise the benefits for Finland. “Firstly, for the Finnish hydrogen backbone, we need routing, licensing and thorough planning. North-south energy transmission needs are growing rapidly and greatly. The hydrogen infrastructure could be one of the keys to this solution. We need to find out how much hydrogen can be produced and how much is needed,” he explains. The second goal involves the creation of hydrogen valleys. A hydrogen valley is a regional hydrogen infrastructure that combines green hydrogen production, consumption and storage with the transport infrastructure. In the first phase of the hydrogen revolution, there could be several such domestic hydrogen valleys across Finland. “We need to identify and participate in building these key valleys to attract high manufacturing and technology development to Finland,” Sipilä says. The third goal concerns international cooperation: hydrogen should be able to flow across national and continental borders. This may have a major impact both on attracting investment in hydrogen production and downstream processing in Finland and on the utilisation of subsidies. This will speed up bringing more jobs and economic growth to Finland. Playing an open hand for the best outcome “Much still needs to happen over the next couple of years for the hydrogen network to remain on schedule. The final window for investment decisions is 2026-28 at the earliest,” Sipilä notes. “This means the hydrogen infrastructure could be in use in the earlier 2030s.” “Building the hydrogen infrastructure is a national major project involving many stakeholders. Broad social acceptance of hydrogen and clean growth is “of utmost importance”,” Sipilä considers. “Open dialogue is highlighted when meeting stakeholders. While we have no ready answers to all questions, there is strong determination to find the best solutions,” he says. “The principles are now being created to guide development of the hydrogen infrastructure for decades to come.” — WHO? Name: Olli Sipilä Job: CEO, Gasgrid Finland Oy Education: Master of Science in Economics & Business Administration, Industrial Management, 2003 Best thing about the job: Meaningfulness Motto: It’s enough to always try your best, even when the challenge is big. When working together, a good enough solution is usually always found in the end. Hobbies: Fly fishing, cycling, swimming, cooking, and the most recent hobby – golf — Gasgrid’s strategy 2024–2026 – aiming for a flexible, low-emission energy system Gasgrid’s updated strategy for 2024-2026 emphasises the promotion of a clean transition in society. In practice, this means creating jobs, increasing Finland’s energy independence and significantly accelerating the company’s multi-gas and hydrogen business. At the same time, Gasgrid wants to promote the significant market growth of low-emission gases, such as green hydrogen and synthetic methane, in the energy system on the journey towards a carbon-neutral Finland by 2035. In addition, the company will provide value, predictability and flexibility to customers and security of supply to society through a reliable gas platform. The five priority areas of the new strategy are: developer of an agile multi-gas platform hydrogen economy unifier accelerator of investments responsible changemaker fosterer of forerunners Text: Sami Anteroinen
Environmental impact assessment is an important anchor in hydrogen infrastructure design 13.1.2025 The environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure plays a key role in construction of a hydrogen pipeline. Planning the hydrogen pipeline route carefully considers the views of landowners and other stakeholders. Merja Autiola, Permit Coordinator at Gasgrid, says that an environmental impact assessment (EIA) provides an opportunity to assure various stakeholders that all obligations will be dealt with responsibly from start to finish. “The good thing about the EIA procedure is that it gives all parties a possibility to be heard,” Autiola says. The EIA procedure begins with careful planning. This includes planning the preliminary routing options for the hydrogen transmission pipeline with municipalities,” says Tommi Raappana, Land usage planning manager at Gasgrid. “We review the feedback from municipalities and modify the hydrogen infrastructure route plan accordingly,” Raappana says. Thorough groundwork “The EIA procedure is a two-stage process,” says Merja Autiola. “The first stage sets out a plan of how the actual assessment will be carried out, what surveys and reports will be prepared as the actual report phase progresses, and what the current knowledge of the construction area is,” Autiola explains. The authority approves this stage; in addition, this stage already allows stakeholders to provide feedback and comments. The second stage, the report stage, includes the actual impact assessment, for which the activities described above in the programme stage are planned – such as mapping, noise modelling, landscape impact assessment and air emission calculations. “All available information on the environment and nature in the area is brought together and compared with the impact of the pipeline construction on a thematic basis. The end result is a summary of the different types of impacts and a recommendation on the best route and impact mitigation measures to be taken into account in pipeline construction,” Autiola sums up. Straightforward construction Construction of the onshore hydrogen infrastructure is actually simple: dig a deep trench, lay the hydrogen pipeline at the bottom and fill the trench in. From an environmental perspective, it is important to minimise adverse impacts: for example, not felling trees unnecessarily and not moving around in mobile machinery outside of the construction sites. “A responsible operator also restores the landscape once construction work has been completed,” Autiola adds. The hydrogen route is preferably planned through a field because farming can continue as before once the pipeline is in the ground. Safety distances to be defined One important factor is the safety distance of buildings and similar structures from the pipeline itself and from valve stations and pressure reduction and compressor stations. Unlike natural gas, no safety distances have yet been defined for hydrogen. “We’re in preliminary discussions with the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) and it seems that safety distances will be very similar to those for natural gas;” Tommi Raappana says. The contact authority for the EIA procedure is the ELY Centre, which will give its opinion on Gasgrid’s environmental impact assessment. The ELY Centre among other things, assesses the conditions under which the project can proceed. “Based on the ELY centre’s opinion, we can select a specific route for further planning and do more detailed planning,” Raappana says. The next phase will see a start made on the licensing process: water permits, expropriation permits related to land use and other necessary permits must be obtained before construction work can begin. “Changes to the expropriation procedure are also in the pipeline. A pending amendment to the law will increase land expropriation payments by around 25%,” Raappana says. Crossings under rivers a challenge Autiola points out that crossings under rivers typically pose the greatest challenge to planning and implementing the hydrogen infrastructure. “Excavation work must be done to be able to lay a pipeline under a river bed and this could cause temporary turbidity. Water turbidity is harmful, especially in small rivers and important aquatic habitats, so the technology used must be carefully considered. “We want to take particularly good care of all water bodies,” Autiola adds. Raappana says that groundwater areas also require special care. “For wells, we sample the water before construction starts and again after construction if there is reason to suspect changes in water quality.” Landowner’s voice counts The views of landowners are listened to throughout the planning process for the hydrogen infrastructure. The aim is for every landowner to feel that their views are really taken into account,” Raappana says. “The transmission pipeline route could also change at a landowner’s request if there are good grounds to do so,” Raappana adds. A successful process requires seamless communication, including in the field. Before construction work starts, an initial site inspection is carried out to check the location of wells and cables on site, for example. “A lot of practical things are worked out with the landowner, such as what happens to the installation road during construction. It is up to the landowner to decide whether to restore the area or leave the access road in place,” Raappana explains. Working together delivers results Autiola and Raappana say that besides landowners, also other stakeholders – from municipalities and regional councils to the Finnish Defence Forces and reindeer herding areas – have an important role to play in reaching a successful outcome. “We strive for good dialogue with all stakeholders, since open and transparent communication will increase the acceptability of the whole project,” Autiola sums up. — Key figures on the preliminary routes of the national hydrogen transport infrastructure planned by Gasgrid: Total length of the hydrogen infrastructure: > 1,5oo km Number of municipalities along the route: 70 Number of properties along the route: 7,484 Number of Natura rivers along the route: 8 Landing points: 2 Groundwater areas along the route: 54 Compressor stations: 2-3 Number of crossings under large rivers: 29 Number of crossings under medium-sized rivers: 62 Number of crossings under small-sized rivers: 28 Avoided in routing –National parks, nature conservation areas, Natura areas (excluding long river areas), conservation programme areas, important natural formations, groundwater areas, lakes –Traditional biotypes –Archaeological sites –Areas challenging for construction: cliffs and rapids, rocky areas –Urban areas, buildings, cemeteries, mines, dams, local detailed plan areas Recommended routing –Demand areas for the hydrogen pipeline (i.e. hydrogen production and consumption points based on market data) –Cultivated fields, grassland, proximity to roads –Areas with favourable soil conditions for construction Read more: Gasgrid invites municipalities and regional actors to partner in developing the national hydrogen infrastructure Carbon steel is suitable for hydrogen transmission pipelines, considering the boundary conditions ABC of hydrogen safety
