The Nordic Hydrogen Route and The Baltic Sea Hydrogen Collector deemed Projects of Common Interest by the European Commission

Two major hydrogen infrastructure projects driven by Nordion Energi and Gasgrid Finland are on the list of energy projects for building a more integrated and resilient EU energy market and pursuing EU energy and climate goals. On November 28th the European Commission announced its 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 Nordic Hydrogen Route is an initiative between the Finnish and Swedish gas transmission system operators Gasgrid Finland and Nordion Energi to accelerate the creation of a hydrogen economy by building up 1,000 km cross-border hydrogen infrastructure in Bothnian Bay region and an open hydrogen market by 2030. The aim of the Nordic Hydrogen Route is to drive decarbonization, support regional green industrialization, economic development, and European energy independence. The companies seek to develop a network of pipelines that would effectively transport green energy from producers to consumers to ensure they have access to an open, reliable, and safe hydrogen market.

The Baltic Sea Hydrogen Collector (BHC) is a ground-breaking project that will create a first-of-its-kind offshore hydrogen pipeline infrastructure in the Baltic Sea Region to secure more energy for the Nordics and Europe. The project was initiated by Gasgrid Finland and Nordion Energi together with the wind power developers OX2 and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners.

The BHC plans to build a 1,250 km pipeline system which will transport green hydrogen produced from abundant wind resources and other renewable energy sources in the Baltic Sea Region and connect mainland Finland and Sweden with Denmark and Germany. The infrastructure will unlock the potential for more energy production in the Baltic Sea Region and support the creation of an efficient, harmonized, and reliable European hydrogen market.

Hydrogen has a vital role in balancing Europe’s future energy system as it offers storage and balancing solutions. Additionally, hydrogen supports decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors and green industrialization on a national and EU level.

Projects of common interest (PCIs) are key infrastructure projects aimed at completing the European internal energy market in order to help the EU achieve its energy and climate policy objectives: delivering affordable, secure and sustainable energy for all Europeans and contributing to energy indepencency and a climate-neutral economy by 2050. A PCI status enables simplified permitting processes and the possibility to apply for funding from EU´s Connecting Europe Facility program.

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.

For more information please visit:
https://nordichydrogenroute.com/
https://balticseahydrogencollector.com/

Company background and media inquiries:
Gasgrid Finland Oy is a Finnish state-owned company and transmission system operator with system responsibility. We offer our customers safe, reliable, and cost-efficient transmission of gases. We actively develop our transmission platform, services, and the gas market in a customer-oriented manner to promote the carbon-neutral energy system of the future. Find out more: www.gasgrid.fi/

Contact: Sara Kärki, Gasgrid Finland, Senior Vice President, Hydrogen Development , sara.karki@gasgrid.fi, +358401581722

Nordion Energi specialises in energy infrastructure and is driven by a clear ambition: to be part of driving the transition to 100% green energy. Nordion Energi is the TSO (Transmission System Operator) for the Swedish main gas grid and owns and operates the country’s biggest gas distribution network and also has electricity network operations. Nordion Energi ensures our customers such as industries, municipalities, CHP plants, households, filling stations and restaurants are always supplied with energy in a safe, sustainable way. https://www.nordionenergi.se/

Contact: Saila Horttanainen, Nordion Energi AB, Director of Communications, Nordion Energi AB, saila.horttanainen@nordionenergi.se, tel. +46706227606