Boden – a hub for hydrogen in the Nordics

The EU has emphasized the development of renewable hydrogen as crucial to meeting climate targets: cutting emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030 and achieving full climate neutrality by 2050.

That is why attention is now turning to northern Sweden and Finland. Here, large undeveloped areas combine with abundant renewable energy and comparatively low electricity prices. Conditions that make it possible to create a major infrastructure for green hydrogen. Several industrial projects in the region are also set to include large-scale hydrogen production – such as Stegra’s green steel plant in Boden.

– The region has taken something of a lead jersey thanks to these investments. Many around the world are following what is happening here and actively showing interest in being part of it, says Cecilia Wallmark, Director of CH2ESS at Luleå University of Technology.

CH2ESS stands for Center for Hydrogen Energy Systems Sweden, a research and knowledge initiative at LTU focusing on hydrogen use in industrial processes and energy systems. The initiative is being carried out in close cooperation with Swedish industry.

Wind and hydropower

In a feasibility study conducted by LTU and the Research Institute of Sweden (RISE), the conditions for building a hydrogen infrastructure around the Bothnian Bay in northern Sweden and Finland were examined. More concretely, the study looked at the possibility of building high-pressure pipelines for hydrogen.

– Companies have already expressed interest in building this infrastructure, and although further research is needed in the field, it seems entirely feasible, says Cecilia Wallmark.

Historically, Boden became a hub during the expansion of both the railway and the power grid. Now it seems likely that the city will play the same role in yet another infrastructure development. The study highlights Boden not only for its geographical location but also for its ability to harness large volumes of electricity from both wind and hydropower.

– We are not saying it will necessarily happen this way, but based on the available data, it is a possible scenario. Should it materialize, it would bring new business opportunities – not only for large industrial operations, which we already see in the region and in Boden, but also for small and medium-sized enterprises. I believe there is significant potential for development in that area.

The study also points to the benefits of creating an interconnected backbone between the Nordic countries around the Bothnian Bay. Both Sweden and Finland will produce large amounts of green hydrogen linked to industrial investments, from the ore fields of northern Sweden to northern Ostrobothnia in Finland.

The countries are also expanding and strengthening their power grids to meet the new demands of industry.

– One of our strengths is that we already have established cooperation in electricity networks and other systems, and we are used to working across national borders. It would make sense to build a complementary hydrogen infrastructure where that collaboration can continue, Wallmark says.

Emergency services a bottleneck

For CH2ESS, the feasibility study also identifies several research areas with development potential. These include technical questions such as new materials to minimize leakage in hydrogen pipelines in cold climates, planning support for optimal pipeline location, and how regulations should evolve.

– To make this infrastructure possible, the permit process must become faster, and the regulatory framework needs to be reviewed and adapted. One example is that it is currently the local fire and rescue services that issue permits to handle hydrogen. And until all 280 rescue services in Sweden have updated their knowledge in the area, we risk losing valuable time, says Cecilia Wallmark.

– We also need to broaden hydrogen research into more sectors – legal, environmental, practically all areas where hydrogen could play a role.

Europe 2.0

The scale of what is expected to be built in terms of industry and infrastructure for green hydrogen can be compared to the expansion of hydropower in the region. Cecilia Wallmark sees many similarities between the two, but also important differences.

– It will not be as transformative as when electricity became a given in Swedish homes. But what is positive about hydrogen is that the infrastructure does not require as much land as the power grid. At the same time, the permit processes are similar, people will move to the region because of the investments, and that is positive. But when it comes to hydrogen, we need to look at it from a larger perspective.

One perspective becomes clear on the European Hydrogen Backbone website, where active and planned hydrogen pipelines are presented on a map of EU countries, showing how the union will be connected through this infrastructure.

– This may not be “Porjus 2.0” for Sweden and Norrbotten. But what we are researching now and building here in the region may very well be “Europe 2.0”. That makes it all very exciting.

Illustration from European Hydrogen Backbone showing how the hydrogen infrastructure in the EU may look in 2040. Yellow pipelines represent new infrastructure.