In the near future, a large hydrogen production facility with an electrical output of 300 megawatts is set to be built on the nuclear power plot reserved for Fennovoima in Simon Karsikko, Finland. This facility will produce more than 20,000 tons of hydrogen per year and will be over ten times larger than P2X Solutions’ 20 megawatt green hydrogen and synthetic methane production plant in Harjavalla.
The hydrogen plant will be constructed by eFactory, a Finnish energy processing company that is part of Storm Energy. The company plans to use its own inexpensive wind electricity to produce green hydrogen. Behind this project is a Danish investment fund Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, which has invested over two billion euros in green projects in Finland. Myrsky, a wind power company owned by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, has more than 50 wind power projects around Finland and plans to add hydrogen production to its portfolio.
According to Tuomas Candelin-Palmqvist, chairman of the board of Myrsky and eTehtaa, “The Danish fund is our partner but not a partner in the company. They get a certain share of the electricity produced because together with Myrsky, they own part of our wind power projects.” The final product of one of the largest electrolysis facilities planned for 2030 in Kokkola and Kristiinankaupunki will be hydrogen. The owner of both projects is Plug Power, an American company that is one of Europe’s largest players in the hydrogen market.
In addition to building the hydrogen plant, eTehdas has entered into an agreement with the municipality of Simon Karsiko to start producing hydrogen in their town near the southern border of Kemi. According to Candelin-Palmqvist,”The cost estimate for the project is close to one billion euros. We are looking for a financing partner for it.” One option being considered is Danish money. Simo lost out on being chosen as the location for Fennovoima nuclear power plant in Pyhäjoki in 2016 but have also made plans for an industrial-sized battery warehouse on Cape Simon Karsiko where wind electricity can be stored.
This new development brings hope that Finland will continue its journey towards becoming greener and more sustainable energy independent nation.
