Hydrogen, energy system and infrastructure around the Gulf of Bothnia

What is needed for a sustainable hydrogen energy system? 

In the prestudy, mappings of conditions for a sustainable hydrogen energy system have been conducted for the area around the Gulf of Bothnia. The prestudy used a broad approach to analyse the conditions, opportunities and barriers for a hydrogen gas infrastructure in northern Sweden, Finland and Norway. The prestudy established a collaborative platform for stakeholders, in connection with the ongoing project Swedish Hydrogen Development Centre (SHDC) run by RISE and Swerim, and the competence centre CH2ESS at Luleå University of Technology.

The prestudy mapped conditions for a hydrogen-based fossil-free industry

The background of the project is the industrial plans in northern Sweden and Finland to produce the world's first fossil-free steel using hydrogen. The scale of the planned industrial processes is enormous. For example, the need for fossil-free electricity corresponds to 40% of the current electricity production in Sweden. 

The prestudy resulted in:

• An updated picture of the current situation and of the projects planned in the region (wind power, energy storage, hydrogen production & usage).
• Identification and analysis of the stakeholders and interest groups involved in, or affected by, the development of the energy infrastructure. 
• A meeting place for stakeholders within the development of industrial hydrogen in the region.
• A preliminary techno-economic analysis of a complementary hydrogen gas grid, based on the updated picture of the development and the analyses of the stakeholders and interest groups.
• Definitions of further investigations and research necessary to move forward.

Project report

The project was finished in October 2022 and the project report is available here: Project report