The European energy group Energiequelle has secured land for hydrogen production in Oulu, Northern Finland. Commissioning is planned in three phases between 2028 and 2033. If fully realized, the plant could reach over 500 MW of electrolysis capacity.
In the first phase, Energiequelle plans to build a hydrogen production facility with up to 5 MW capacity and a hydrogen filling station for buses and other heavy-duty vehicles. In the second phase, the capacity is set to increase to 10 – 50 MW. At this stage, hydrogen exports via a planned pipeline and the Port of Oulu may also become feasible, assuming necessary infrastructure is in place. In phase three, production is expected to expand by an additional 100 to 500 MW.
“If the right market conditions are met, we expect the first phase to be completed by 2028. However, this is a major industrial project and a significant investment. The planning reservation we have now secured is just one of the first steps toward concrete investment decisions. For projects of this scale, planning and studies are always conducted thoroughly,” said Karl Schultheis, Head of Business Development at Energiequelle Finland.
Recently, German company Abo Energy (formerly Abo Wind) also secured land for a 600 MW electrolyzer in the same region. As previously reported by HZwei, Oulu is rapidly evolving into a European hub for hydrogen technology.
The Oulu Green Hydrogen Park is Energiequelle’s first public hydrogen project in Finland. However, the company has already gained experience in the European hydrogen market. In February, it launched the HY.City.Bremerhaven project in Germany. Raschermann emphasized that the project’s realization will depend on the investment environment and buyer interest.
Oulu region betting on hydrogen production and export
Three large-scale hydrogen projects are currently emerging in the Oulu region, which has the highest renewable electricity generation in all of Finland and some of the lowest electricity prices in Europe, according to local authorities.
The region aims to use surplus green electricity to produce hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives. State-owned gas grid operator Gasgrid Finland is planning to build a hydrogen transport infrastructure connecting Oulu with the rest of Finland and other European countries, including Germany.
Additional advantages of the Oulu site include its international port, biogenic carbon dioxide sources, and integration into the EU’s TEN-T transportation network. The University of Oulu is also a hydrogen research hub, offering both expertise and a well-qualified workforce.
As with Abo Energy, Energiequelle’s land reservation is only a preliminary step. A final investment decision is still pending in both cases.
