BotH₂nia regions from north to south

Sea Lapland (Kemi, Tornio)

Sea Lapland has 12 existing or planned industrial zones where the hydrogen industry can be located. This amounts to 1,000 hectares of industrial zones where, according to zoning regulations, facilities that handle or store hazardous chemicals on a large scale may be established.

The region is home to major sources of biogenic carbon dioxide. The largest of these is Metsä Fibre’s pulp mill in Kemi, Sea Lapland. Metsä Fibre is already conducting tests on carbon dioxide capture at its other mill in Rauma, Satakunta.

The region, which includes Tornio, Keminmaa, Kemi, Simo, and Tervola, has an abundant supply of electricity thanks to its own wind power generation. Major power lines also cross the border between Finland and Sweden, and these will be further expanded in the future.

Gasgrid Finland and Nordion Energi are planning to connect the Finnish and Swedish hydrogen industries with Nordic Hydrogen Route, a hydrogen infrastructure running through Sea Lapland. This will make it possible to purchase hydrogen from Sweden and further process it in Sea Lapland into synthetic fuel, which can then be exported to international markets from the Port of Kemi. Similarly, hydrogen can also be transported from Sea Lapland to northern Sweden, where hydrogen-powered steel mills and hydrogen storage facilities are being built.

Read more on the H2 Sea Lappland website.

Announced projects:

• Norsk E-Fuel, Tornio (Sea Lapland)
• ET Fuels, Ranua (Lapland)
• Vetyalfa, Kemijärvi (Lapland)
• Vetyalfa, Rovaniemi (Lapland)

Contact us for more information about the region and the projects:

• Eveliina Nousiainen, Projektipäällikkö / Project Manager, Kemin Digipolis, eveliina.nousiainen [a] digipolis.fi, +358 40 196 1114

Northern Ostrobothnia (Oulu, Nivala, Utajärvi, Vaala)

In Northern Ostrobothnia, the hydrogen ecosystem is rapidly expanding to become very extensive. Most of the new hydrogen plants are planned for Oulu, where several industrial zones are available for the hydrogen industry. In addition, plants producing hydrogen and hydrogen-based products are planned for the Nivala-Haapajärvi area and Utajärvi.

Northern Ostrobothnia is capitalising on its position as Finland’s largest wind power hub. Significant solar power projects have also been announced in the region.

Sources of biogenic carbon dioxide in the region include, for example, Stora Enso’s pulp mill in Oulu and Oulu Energia’s power plants. Finland’s largest biogas power plant is being planned for Nivala.

The Oulu region has an abundant supply of skilled labour, as the area is home to a large concentration of high-tech companies and research institutions. Investments in research and development in the Oulu region are among the highest in Europe. Hydrogen research has long been one of the University of Oulu’s areas of strength.

Read more on the Hydrogen in Oulu website.

Announced projects:

• Abo Energy, Nivala
• Abo Energy, Oulu
• Hy2Gen, Oulu
• Nivala Biogas, Nivala
• Oulu Energy / P2X Solution, Oulu
• Verso Energy, Oulu
• Vetyalfa, Utajärvi
• Vetyalfa, Vaala

Contact us for more information about the region and the projects:

• Janne Hietaniemi, Asiakkuuspäällikkö / Key Account Director, BusinessOulu, janne.hietaniemi [a] businessoulu.fi , +358 40 649 1211
• Kimmo Niskanen, Aluekehitysjohtaja / Regional Development Director, Nihak, kimmo.niskanen [a] nihak.fi , +358 40 029 9412

Central Ostrobothnia (Kokkola)

Located in Central Ostrobothnia, the 700-hectare Kokkola Industrial Park (KIP) is Northern Europe’s largest ecosystem for the chemical and metal processing industries. The region has a long tradition of hydrogen production. Woikoski has been producing hydrogen via steam reforming for decades and now also produces hydrogen via electrolysis. Hycamite has opened its own hydrogen production plant based on methane pyrolysis. Other electrolytic hydrogen production plants are also planned for the area. The region already hosts other chemical industries that use hydrogen in their own processes.

The Port of Kokkola is located directly adjacent to the industrial area. The Port of Kokkola is Finland’s largest bulk cargo port and the third-largest port in Finland by volume. The Port of Kokkola is one of Finland’s most important export ports for the chemical industry, which means it has strong expertise and ample capacity to meet the needs of the hydrogen industry.

Read more on KIP’s website.

Announced projects:

• Arctial, Kokkola & Kruunupyy
• Hycamite, Kokkola
• Vanadis Fuels, Kokkola
• Woikoski, Kokkola

Contact us for more information about the region and the projects:

• Teemu Aho, TKI-koordinaattori / R&D Coordinator, Centria, teemu.aho [a] centria.fi, +358 50 330 04068

Ostrobothnia (Vaasa, Kristinestad/Kristiinankaupunki, Jakobstad/Pietarsaari) 

Plans are underway to build facilities producing hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives in several locations along the Ostrobothnian coast. The most advanced plans are in Kristinestad, where Koppö Energia’s hydrogen plants are set to be located in the Karhusaari port area. The city is also zoning a new northern industrial area, where the hydrogen industry is welcome to establish operations. In Jakobstad, a hydrogen plant is being planned for the Alholma industrial area, which is directly connected to the Port of Pietarsaari.

Vaasa is a major hub for the energy sector, home to companies that develop solutions and systems for the maritime industry, such as Wärtsilä. As a result, the city is researching technologies that can utilise hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels in maritime transport.

The EnergyVaasa cluster (EnergyVaasa – Merinova), which operates in the Vaasa region and is the largest energy industry hub in the Nordic countries, includes leading international companies in the field, such as Wärtsilä, ABB, Danfoss, and Hitachi Energy. Collaboration with research institutions is excellent.

Read more on Kristinestad hydrogen page.

Read more about Vaasa on the EnergySampo and EnergyVaasa websites.

Announced projects:

• Koppö Energy, Kristinestad
• Plug Power, Kristinestad

Contact us for more information about the region and the projects:

• Angelique Irjala, Toimitusjohtaja / CEO, Business Kristinestad, angelique.irjala [a] krs.fi , +358 40 569 3796
• Kari Valkama, Projektipäällikkö / Project Manager, Merinova, kari.valkama [a] merinova.fi , +358 40 513 4372

South Ostrobothnia (Seinäjoki)

South Ostrobothnia is a major region for renewable electricity production in Finland. The region already produces more electricity than it needs, and production is based primarily on wind power, supplemented by rapidly growing solar power. Thanks to ongoing and planned wind and solar power projects, South Ostrobothnia’s renewable electricity generation capacity and annual output are expected to grow significantly by 2030.

The region’s strong agricultural and food supply chain supports large-scale biogas production, which generates biogenic carbon dioxide. Biogas and biogenic CO₂ provide the foundation for further hydrogen processing and the development of Power-to-X solutions. A study on potential locations for clean industry has been conducted in South Ostrobothnia, identifying several areas across the region suitable for clean industry investments.

Contact us to learn more about the region:

• Suvi Karirinne, Erityisasiantuntija / Senior RDI expert, SEAMK, suvi.karirinne [a] seamk.fi , +358 40 830 2024

Pirkanmaa (Tampere)

The Tampere region is Finland’s second-largest urban area and a major hub for the technology industry. Approximately 80 per cent of Finland’s industry is located within a two-hour drive.

The Tampere region produces significant amounts of biogenic carbon dioxide from heat generation and waste incineration, which is why several plants are being planned to produce hydrogen and hydrogen-based products. Because Pirkanmaa is centrally located, electricity transmission is relatively easy using the national grid.

As a major university city, it can offer a large pool of skilled workers as well as housing and services for the workforce.

Announced projects:

• Freija, Tampere
• Nordic Ren-Gas, Tampere

Contact us for more information about the region and the projects:

• Mika Kolari, Asiakkuusvastaava / Senior Business Advisor, Business Tampere, mika.kolari [a] businesstampere.fi , +358 40 505 7464

Satakunta (Pori, Rauma)

Satakunta is one of Finland’s fastest-progressing regions in the development of the hydrogen economy. Finland’s first commercial facility producing hydrogen exclusively through electrolysis operates in Harjavalta. It is owned by P2X Solutions.

Metsä Fibre has decided to launch Finland’s first commercial carbon dioxide capture plant in Rauma. Several synthetic fuel production plants are planned for the region, including in the industrial area near the Port of Pori, along the Kokemäenjoki River, and in Rauma.

The Port of Pori’s LNG terminal offers exceptional opportunities for exporting synthetic fuels to the rest of the world. Gasgrid has announced that it is exploring the construction of a multi-gas network extending to Pori, which would allow synthetic gases to be transported via pipelines from the Port of Pori for export.

Announced projects:

• Luoto Energia, Rauma
• Nordic Ren-Gas, Pori
• Norsk E-Fuel, Rauma
• P2X Solutions, Harjavalta

Contact us for more information about the region and these projects:

• Matti Luhtanen, Projektipäällikkö / Project Manager, Prizztech, matti.luhtanen [a] prizz.fi , +358 44 710 5347

Southwest Finland (Turku, Naantali, Salo)

In Southwest Finland, the hydrogen industry is drawn to Turku’s new Isosuo industrial area, the industrial area east of the Port of Naantali, and the Lounapuisto circular economy park in Salo. All of these areas have or will have a “T/Kem” designation for major industrial and chemical storage plants in their zoning plans. The Isosuo industrial area specializes in clean industry. The industrial area at the Port of Naantali is located near existing heavy industry and logistics operations. Lounapuisto serves as a circular economy hub. All areas have access to both the national electricity transmission grid and the district heating network. According to Gasgrid’s preliminary plan, Finland’s national hydrogen network would extend to Turku, Naantali, and Salo.

In Southwest Finland, four universities and educational institutions produce a skilled workforce. There are over 50,000 students enrolled in the universities alone. Finland’s third-largest metropolitan area also has a large existing supply of housing and services, which makes it easier to attract workers from other regions.

In addition to the Åland Islands, Southwest Finland has the highest solar power output in Finland. According to previous plans, it is also possible to build a large number of offshore wind farms in the surrounding shallow waters.  

Read more on the Turku region’s hydrogen page.

Contact us for more information about the region and its projects:

• Reeta Huhtinen, Asiakkuusvastaava / Account Manager, Business Turku, reeta.huhtinen [a] businessturku.fi , +358 10 321 8831
• Jussi Somerpalo, Erityisasiantuntija / Senior Specialist, Yrityssalo, jussi.somerpalo [a] yrityssalo.fi, +358 50 911 2580