Baltic Sea Hydrogen Collector
The development project explores the possibilities of building a offshore hydrogen pipeline connecting Finland, Sweden and Germany to enable the production and storage of clean and sustainable hydrogen. Gasgrid focuses especially on enabling the utilization of wind power in Finland’s maritime areas and the development of the market in the Baltic Sea region.
The parties in the project are Gasgrid Finland, Nordion Energi and industrial companies OX2 and Copenhagen Infrastucture Partners.
The companies have agreed to study the possibility of developing a new large-scale offshore hydrogen pipeline infrastructure connecting Finland, Sweden and Central Europe to produce clean and sustainable hydrogen for Europe’s needs.
BHC aims to connect Finland and Sweden to Åland and Germany by 2030. The offshore project may also be connected to other energy islands in the region such as Gotland and Bornholm in Sweden and Denmark.
Nomination as a Project of Common Interest by the European Commission
On November 28, 2023, the European Commission announced that the Baltic Sea Hydrogen Collector (BHC) is included on its 6th list of European Projects of Common Interest (PCI). The Commission will now submit the PCI list to the European Parliament and the Council for approval. The non-objection period for the co-legislators is expected to be finalized in Q1 2024.
By being part of the PCI-list, the BHC is deemed as a key cross-border infrastructure project that will contribute to the EU’s energy independence, climate targets and to establishing an affordable, secure and sustainable European energy system. The Parliament and the Council have two months to approve the Commission’s list. If neither of the institutions reject the Commission’s proposal, the PCI list enters into force.
The PCI status will support the BHC’s realization of a large-scale offshore hydrogen pipeline infrastructure in the Baltic Sea Region by enabling simplified permitting processes and the possibility to apply for funding from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility program.
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