Finland’s North Ostrobothnia region should be able to produce ‘at least’ one-tenth of the EU’s zero-emission hydrogen in 2030, a study published by the Technical Research Centre of Finland on Wednesday reads.
The study titled “Pre-study on the transition to a hydrogen economy, specifically in Northern Ostrobothnia” was published Wednesday by the Technical Research Centre (VTT) at the event “Northern Power – H2 NOW!”.
Hydrogen production in North Ostrobothnia could meet the targets set in the Finnish government’s hydrogen policy, under which the country aims to produce at least one megaton of zero-emission hydrogen, which would fulfil 10% of the EU target by 2030.
This will be due to the region’s growing renewable electricity production, according to the report, as wind and solar power can be used to produce emission-free hydrogen from water.
At the same time, the study also highlighted one obstacle to growth, calling it the “chicken and egg” problem of technology uptake, pointing to the lack of demand for green hydrogen leading to a lack of investment and uncertainty about availability.
According to the study, this could be solved with an ecosystem where actors from different parts of the hydrogen value chain create synergies to boost the hydrogen economy.
To meet European hydrogen plans, pipelines connecting North Ostrobothnia to the pan-European hydrogen gas pipeline network are currently in the planning phase.
Gasgrid Finland, among others, is involved in developing three hydrogen infrastructure projects which, if implemented, would connect the region to countries like Sweden and Germany.
(Pekka Vänttinen | EURACTIV.com)
Source: euractiv.com
