Six gas transmission operators (TSOs) have completed a pre-feasibility study of the 2,500km Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor (NBHC).
Beginning in Finland and running through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and into Germany, the corridor is expected to transport up to 2.7 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually between the countries by 2040.
The pre-feasibility study has indicated that the NBHC can be one of the first operational cross-border hydrogen pipelines in Europe. The study also provided a comprehensive framework covering the technical, legal, organisational and economic aspects necessary to realise the corridor.
© Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor
Moving forward, the TSOs involved now plan to commence work on the feasibility study for the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI), covering the initiative’s detailed technical analysis, commercial and economic assessment, and the implementation timeline of the NBHC.
“The cross-border, organic cooperation between producers, transporters and consumers will be an important building block for the success of the energy transition in Europe,” the project partners explained.
Kalle Kilk, Chairman of the Board at Estonia’s Elering, said, “Additional connections with neighbouring countries will increase energy security and enable Estonia and Europe in general to reduce dependence on energy imports from third countries.”
Other partners taking part in the NBHC include Gasgrid Finland, Latvian Conexus Baltic Grid, Lithuania’s Amber Grid, Polish GAZ-SYSTEM and Germany’s ONTRAS. They launched the pre-feasibility study in January (2024).
Read more: Pre-feasibility study for Nordic-Baltic hydrogen pipeline launched
Germany, where the planned pipeline ends, is scheduled to double its domestic 2030 electrolysis capacity target from 5GW to 10GW after the German cabinet approved an updated national hydrogen strategy.
The country predicted its 2030 hydrogen demand to reach 95-130TWh, forecasting 50-70% being met by imports.
Read more:Germany doubles domestic hydrogen production target to 10GW while planning import strategy
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