Kemi plans to become a hydrogen hub

"The area has excellent potential," said Suvi Veräjänkorva, Product Manager for Sustainable Development at Rejlers Finland, about the results of the technology survey.

Veräjänkorva argued that the region has the logistics for the production and storage of industrial fuels, although it is not yet used for hydrogen. The area has extensive renewable energy production, water, industry and district heating for waste heat.

The first hydrogen plants (50-200 MW) are proposed to be built near identified industrial sites and wind farms. The second option proposed in the study is a hydrogen and methanation plant in the vicinity of a carbon dioxide source, such as a biogas plant. The size of the plant should be sized according to the carbon dioxide source.

There is plenty of room for infrastructure

Marja Kärkkäinen, Afry's sustainability expert, presented the results of the logistics study on Maritime Lapland.

Hydrogen is stored in principle on an industrial site outdoors as compressed gas, cryogenic liquid or in cryogenic pressurised hybrid storage. Hydrogen can also be stored as ammonia or methanol.

The underground HYBRIT hydrogen storage facility has just been put into trial operation in Luleå, Sweden. Kärkkäinen found this storage interesting: if the two-year trial in Sweden shows good results, it is worth considering building a similar warehouse in the Kemi region.

There are also several industrial sites in the Kemi region where hydrogen storage may be possible—for example, there is plenty of space in the Kemi harbour area. There is also room for other infrastructure required for logistics.

Businesses and municipalities should work together

The benchmarking study was presented by Waltteri Salmi, Senior Specialist, Gaia Consulting. The various support services required by the hydrogen industry can create significant employment in the Kemi region and give a significant boost to small and medium-sized enterprises in the area.

Businesses in the region could make much better use of their potential if they worked together. However, the hydrogen industry is also attracted to many other locations in Finland and around the world. Clear competitive advantages must be highlighted to distinguish Kemi from its competitors. These advantages must be clearly defined and communicated. Similarly, public sector actors have a clear role to play, for example in facilitating business cooperation.

Aiming for 1000 new jobs

The new hydrogen industry has a significant potential to support local growth in the Kemi region, with the overall aim of creating 1,000 new jobs in the area," said Tommi Sirviö from the Invest in Veitsiluoto project.

The event also featured presentations by Matti Rautkivi, Market Development Director of Ren-Gas and Laura Rahikka, CEO of Hycamite TCD Technologies. Ren-Gas is building a decentralised production and distribution network of clean P2X gas fuels for heavy road transport. Hycamite produces emission-free hydrogen and clean, solid, industrial-grade carbon by using catalysts and temperature to decompose methane molecules which make up the majority of natural gas and biogas, among others.

The full reports of the Opportunities of Hydrogen for Kemi project can be found at www.digipolis.fi/kiertotalouskeskus/uudet-avaukset