Hydrogen pipeline on the way – what do landowners need to know?

Planning of the hydrogen infrastructure is progressing. Last year, saw the start of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the planned hydrogen pipeline route, and a detailed route plan was updated based on feedback received. The updated route plan will be published in August 2026.

Gasgrid’s people have held dozens of public events in the municipalities near the planned hydrogen pipeline route in order to discuss the hydrogen project as diversely and openly as possible with various stakeholders.

“There are around 14,000 landowners in the area impacted by the route. About 4,000 of these have attended our events,” says Tommi Raappana, Land usage planning manager at Gasgrid.

What kind of issues concern landowners – typically farmers? Raappana says their greatest concern is about their livelihood and whether farming will be adversely affected.

” The good news is that once the pipeline has been laid in the fields, the terrain will be restored, and agriculture can continue as earlier. Likewise, heavy field machinery can be used in the area as before,” Raappana says.

Landowners compensated for financial loss

The construction phase will harm agriculture and for a few years harvest expectations may be lower in the pipeline area. This financial loss has been taken into account in the planning and will be compensated.

“Compensation will be paid through the expropriation procedure. As a matter of fact, compensation was recently increased by 25% following an amendment to the Act on the Redemption of Immovable Property and Special Rights last autumn.

So, what do landowners think of the level of compensation? Gasgrid looked into the matter by asking residents living along the Balticconnector gas pipeline for their opinions on Gasgrid’s operations and compensation. The survey revealed that up to 97% of landowners are satisfied or very satisfied with the planned compensation.

“Only 3% of the landowners taking part in our survey thought that the level of compensation was insufficient,” Raappana says.

“Since the survey, a new amendment to the Act on the Redemption of Immovable Property and Special Rights has entered into force and further increased the level of compensation.”

Constructive dialogue at consultations

So, it is therefore no wonder that Raappana describes the landowner events organised as having a positive atmosphere. People understand the importance of the hydrogen pipeline infrastructure and the details of the pipeline project are mostly discussed very constructively.

Most of the comments I have heard have been positive. The process has been built to create optimum interaction.

Gasgrid has so far received about 3,000 comments through the map feedback system, based on which the pipeline route plan will be further reviewed. In a way, the “thick line” drawn on the map becomes thinner until it is known exactly where and when the excavator will get to work. The line is still not thin enough:

“Our next step is to start basic planning, which will again take us a bit closer to the finish line. Site investigations are also still to come,” Raappana says

For the first time, Gasgrid introduced an online map survey for the hydrogen project, and this has proven to be a useful tool.

“The online map enables all parties to see where the route is supposed to go.”

New route alignment takes feedback into account

The feedback has now been reviewed. Based on this, a more detailed route will be drawn up, which will be published in August. Raappana says that the pipeline will now also extend to some completely new areas.

“We will also hold consultations on these new route alignments as usual. We want to ensure equal treatment for all landowners – everyone’s voice will be heard,” Raappana pledges.

There are also 7,500 properties on the planned 1,500-kilometre route. There are no plans to dig a pipeline right next to them:

“The pipeline must be at least 15 metres from a residential building and 30 metres from a public building,” Raappana says.

Gasgrid aims to minimise the harm on plots and is also prepared to use third parties to reach the best outcome.

“If drains need to be repaired, for example, we have access to repair planning professionals who are very familiar with local conditions and needs,” Raappana says. Besides this, Gasgrid has its own, experienced supervisors on site to oversee final implementation.

Pipeline needs very little maintenance once complete

Tommi Raappana believes that there will be no attempt to complete the huge project in one go.

“The hydrogen infrastructure will probably be built in parts.”

And once the hydrogen pipeline has been laid in the ground, there will be little need to worry about its maintenance. Raappana points out that the pipeline has a technical service life of 50 years.

“We have technology that allows inspections and some maintenance to be carried out from inside the pipeline.”