Hydrogen cooperation launched in Northern Ostrobothnia
R4H2 – REACTions for Hydrogen is one of the ongoing local hydrogen projects in Finland. Local projects exchange experiences with the national Hydrogen Network, which consists of public sector operators. This means the parties BotH₂nia are partners. For this reason, the views of the parties are also published on this website.
Nearly 150 people from various companies, municipalities and research institutes in Northern Ostrobothnia started to shift the region towards the era of the hydrogen economy on 23 February, when pioneers in the industry shared their experiences at a Hydrogen Network seminar. The first to embrace the idea is the municipality of Utajärvi.
“Utajärvi is the first municipality in Finland to draft a zoning plan that includes the production and distribution of hydrogen. The objective is to have the plan valid in a year,” says Managing Director Vuokko Paso, of Utajärven Yrityspuisto business centre.
The municipality of 2,700 residents on the banks of the Oulujoki is building its way to success using renewable energy and the circular economy. It aims to benefit from close cooperation with local companies in the field and is accelerating the process by means of expertise in zoning and activities in the local community.
One of the most important partners will be Skarta Energy. Skarta has acquired over 100 hectares of old peat bog in Utajärvi and is planning to build a solar plant of some 150 MW, the largest in Finland. Skarta and other companies are about to launch wind power projects consisting of some 150 wind turbines as part of ten different projects in Utajärvi.
“We will also start hydrogen production in Utajärvi, in addition to hydrogen distribution to vehicles as well as batteries for electricity and charging stations for electric cars. The operations will be arranged using a smart network,” says Managing Director Kari Tuominen of Skarta Energy.
The new energy network in Utajärvi is expected to be fully operational as of 2026.
Opportunities for the hydrogen industry in Raahe
In its new survey, the City of Raahe, Finland has found three suitable areas for the industrial production and storage of hydrogen. Raahe’s objective is to become an important hub of the Bothnian Bay hydrogen industry as a cluster of carbon-neutral industry and as a hydrogen producer. SSAB steelworks already operate in Raahe; the company is planning to turn the site into a steel mill for fossil-free steel using hydrogen technology by 2030.
“Our analysis covered earthwork needs, availability of water, and environmental protection needs including the current status and use of nature in the area, such as availability of water, and buffer zones regarding existing buildings and wind turbines,” said Environmental Consultant Karoliina Markuksela of Ramboll Finland.
Hydrogen production would be advantageous for the numerous CO2-free energy production projects in the Raahe area and for strengthening the power grid in the area. For example, wind power supplier OX2 is planning the Halla offshore wind power plant project with a maximum of 160 wind turbines in Finnish waters outside the cities of Oulu and Raahe. The estimated initial annual production capacity would be about 12 TWh and, according to the preliminary schedule, production would commence at the earliest in 2030.
H-Flex-E – an example of end-to-end chain management from Vaasa
The H-FLEX-E project in Vaasa, Finland, inspired participants outside Northern Ostrobothnia, too.
“We will have production, storage and consumption of green hydrogen all in the same place. In addition to the electricity market, the system will be connected to the local district heating network, which will improve the total efficiency of the plant,” said Development Engineer Niko Toppari of EPV Energia.
The system will increase the flexible balancing capacity in the electricity market. At the same time, the project will also operate as a backup power supplier during peaks. Zero-emission hydrogen will be produced when the price of electricity is low, and it will be stored in a large hydrogen storage that can be used to flexibly produce about 300 MWh of electricity. There will also be a biofuel storage in the area to allow the use of renewable supplementary fuel.
Future hydrogen engines will be supplied by Wärtsilä. The target is that the engines could use zero-emission hydrogen for energy production in 2026.
“The objective of the project, which will perhaps start this spring, is to gain experience in green hydrogen production and storage, as well as the flexible and green energy solutions that can be used for balancing and that allow for the green transition of society,” says Mr Toppari.
Strengthening research and education
The foundation for businesses’ success is strong research and development. The University of Oulu, Finland, hosts hydrogen research in four faculties. Hydrogen-related research is carried out in over 20 projects.
“We are planning a 30-credit module that incorporates hydrogen transition,” says
Professor of Metallurgy Timo Fabritius of Oulu University.
The University of Oulu has dozens of years of experience in hydrogen research. At the moment, the strategic spearheads include the production of hydrogen in photocatalysis, the thermocatalytic and thermal decomposition of methane into hydrogen gas, metal production by hydrogen reduction as well as the development of steels for hydrogen production, storage, transmission and user applications. Research is carried out in cooperation with the University of Luleå, Sweden, among others.
“If your company is interested in cooperating with us, you can contact me,” says Professor Fabritius.
Air Liquide – the global view
One of the tasks of BotH2nia is to share global experiences, and therefore global markets were also presented in the seminar in Northern Ostrobothnia.
“We are one of the largest hydrogen operators in the world,” said Vice President of Hydrogen Energy Diederick Luijten from Air Liquide.
The company produces, distributes and stores hydrogen. It provides hydrogen for industries and transport as well as for the heating and electricity production of buildings. Ariane, the European Space Agency’s heavy-lift launcher family, is also fuelled by Air Liquide’s hydrogen.
“Our experience in the hydrogen industry is a great advantage: we have supplied hydrogen for the petrochemical, glass and electronics industries and various space programmes for over 40 years,” says Mr Luijten.
The company operates 40 electrolysers around the world. The objective is to increase the production of hydrogen in electrolysers to gigawatts.
The company is a major player in hydrogen production in the most important industrial area in Europe, the Rhine-Meuse delta. Luijten reminds us that there is great need for an international hydrogen market.
“Only about 10 to 15 per cent of the emission-free hydrogen needed can be produced in the Rhine delta area. This means that a lot of hydrogen still needs to be imported,” says Mr Luijten.
The operating area of the project is Northern Ostrobothnia, and a more detailed project description is available at R4H2 – REACTions for Hydrogen | Raahen seudun kehitys.
