Anticipating the implementation of European Green Deal legislation, many organizations 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/form 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 this group are invited to bring projects into the Valley scope to further complete the hydrogen value chain in Estonia.
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, fueling stations and storage facilities. The hydrogen produced in Estonia will be used for fueling 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.
“Hydrogen Valley Estonia aims to be the central node in the systematic development of the hydrogen economy in Estonia. Without that, Estonia has no perspective on becoming green and energy independent. The coming six years we will focus on kickstarting, and accelerating projects based on onshore hydrogen production, to be ready as an economy for the large-scale uptake of hydrogen based on offshore solutions from 2030 onwards,” said Petrus Postma, Secretary of the Steering Group.
The Estonian Hydrogen Valley development process is led by a consortium of the Estonian Hydrogen Association, and Dutch consultants &flux and New Energy Coalition (world’s first Hydrogen Valley HEAVENN). The strategy and governance of the Hydrogen Valley Estonia will be delivered in September 2022, that includes the submission of the European subsidy application to become part of a Large-Scale Hydrogen Valley along the North Sea and Baltic corridor.
