Nordic-Baltic hydrogen corridor set to transform EU energy landscape

Finnish operator Gasgrid reported on Monday that it is estimated that by 2040, around 3 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen could be transported annually through the planned Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor from Finland through the Baltic countries and Poland to Germany. Hydrogen is often referred to as the fuel of the future.

The hydrogen pipeline from Finland to Germany, passing through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, is set to be one of the first transnational projects of its kind in Europe, the statement emphasised.

The planned diameter of the pipe is 1.2 metres, and several compressor stations will be located along the 2,500-kilometre section – according to the preliminary feasibility study of the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor (NBHC), which has been listed as a priority investment in the EU.

The first phase of the venture, which operators from six countries joined this spring, focused on technical, legislative, and economic aspects. The report highlighted the Baltic states' potential in the production of green hydrogen using renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.

"Finland has an excellent energy transmission system and we play a crucial role in the project, and the EU countries around the Baltic Sea have extensive experience in regional infrastructure cooperation, including in the transmission of gas and electricity," said Gasgrid director Olli Sipilä.

The construction of the hydrogen corridor aligns with the energy transition and decarbonisation of the EU economy, where hydrogen will be one of the key fuels. Besides Gasgrid Finland, the project involves operators: Elering (Estonia), Conexus Baltic Grid (Latvia), Amber Grid (Lithuania), GAZ-SYSTEM (Poland), and ONTRAS (Germany).