Suomen Vetylaakso established to promote vitality and industrial investment in eastern Finland
The City of Lappeenranta, together with regional development companies (Cursor Oy, Kouvola Innovation Oy, Business Joensuu Oy, Imatran Kehy Oy) and LUT University, has decided to establish a cooperation organisation promoting the hydrogen economy, Suomen Vetylaakso.
The association is based on a study by LUT University, which highlights the potential for renewable energy and green hydrogen production in eastern and south-eastern Finland and the potential for growth of a new type of industry.
- The LUT study shows that at least €25 billion of investment and tens of thousands of new jobs can be created in eastern and south-eastern Finland," says Petteri Laaksonen, Research Director at LUT.
The study suggests that the hydrogen valley region could produce the equivalent of the amount of clean fuels used in transport in Finland.
- The total amount of electricity needed to produce hydrogen in the region is 103 terawatt hours (TWh). The wind power potential of the region totals 112 TWh. Thus, the solutions related to the air surveillance radar of the Defence Forces will provide the basis for the growth of vitality in Eastern Finland as a whole. In addition, there are currently many large solar power projects in the pipeline," adds Laaksonen.
