Hydrogen Valley in Estonia Vision to Start in 6 Years
Strategic Research Institute
Published on :
13 Jul, 2022, 5:18 am
In times of widespread energy crisis, the urgency for energy independence and need to green the energy system is felt across Estonia. Anticipating the implementation of European Green Deal legislation, many organisations and cities have committed to become climate neutral to future proof their business. Therefore, the first nationwide Hydrogen Valley ever is now being developed in close cooperation between three regions, one university and five of the largest companies in energy and industry in Estonia. In short, in the coming six years Hydrogen Valley Estonia aims to become a complete and full nationwide hydrogen value chain that will accelerate the energy transition and independency of the whole country under the motto from zero to green.
A coalition of public and private partners has formed the Management Team, Steering Group, and a Support Group for Hydrogen Valley Estonia. Founding partners include Port of Tallinn, Tallinn Airport, Alexela, Eesti Energia, Terminal, Tartu University, Municipality of Tartu, Municipality of Pärnu, and the Island of Saarema. These nine partners are included into Management Team and Steering Group and responsible for building the hydrogen strategy, governance, and international recognition for Estonia to become part of a European Large-Scale Hydrogen Valley along the North Sea Baltic corridor, amongst others the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark. This will foster economic opportunities for international collaboration, hydrogen export, and EU subsidy schemes.
The Support Group is consisting of the following organizations: XFly; Skeleton Technologies; Stargate Hydrogen; Aviation Academy, Tallinn University of Technology; TS Laevad; Liwathon; Elmo Rent, HHLA TK; Estiko; Keila Municipality; Pölva Rural Municipality; SKYCORP, Tartu County and Lääne-Harju Rural Municipality. The members of the Support Group are invited to bring projects into the Valley scope to further complete the hydrogen value chain in Estonia. Additional partners are welcome to discuss becoming part of Hydrogen Valley Estonia to take part in the core of the developing hydrogen economy.
As a result of our preliminary scoping of the Valley, Hydrogen Valley has identified thirty projects to be included into the scope. Almost every single project is initiated by one of the partners in the Steering Group They range from generation of renewable energy to use cases, across the country. By far most of the projects are in the idea and feasibility phase. The schemes below summarize the preliminary findings to date. Hydrogen Valley is working on getting the scope of the Valley complete by July 2022 and present a comprehensive overview in the yearly development as well.
Parallel to that, transport and storage infrastructure is developed, including import and export terminal infrastructure, fuelling stations and storage facilities. This will lay the fundament for the hydrogen backbone to be developed afterwards. Hydrogen use cases under development range from fuelling public transport, heavy duty vehicles, rail, shipping, aviation, and other transport modalities to feedstock for industry, net balancing and even heating cases in the built environment. Finally, a range of innovation-, research- and development projects are included.In the coming six years, green hydrogen production will be developed in at least six regions in the country. Parallel to that, transport and storage infrastructure is developed, including import and export terminal infrastructure, fuelling stations and storage facilities.
The hydrogen produced in Estonia will be used for hydrogen fuelling public transport, heavy duty vehicles, rail, shipping, aviation, and other transport modalities. Furthermore, it will be used as feedstock for industry, net balancing and even heating cases in the built environment. Finally, a range of innovation-, research- and development projects are included. At this moment the scope of Hydrogen Valley Estonia includes around 30 projects under development, but more parties and projects are welcome to join.