Green hydrogen and carbon dioxide power South-East Finland
Green hydrogen and carbon dioxide to power South-East Finland is an ERDF-funded group project in the Renewable and Competent Finland 2021-2027 programme.
The main implementer is LUT University, and the sub-implementers include the City of Lappeenranta, Suomen Vetylaakso ry, Xamk, LAB-ammattikorkeakoulu, Kouvola Innovation (Kinno), Cursor and Imatra Region Development Company (KEHY).
The project will promote investments in renewable energy (wind, solar) and build conditions for the utilisation of green hydrogen and bio-based carbon dioxide: developing infrastructure and a roadmap for CO₂ recovery, streamlining permitting processes and strengthening the regional hydrogen ecosystem in South Karelia and Kymenlaakso. The implementation period is 1.9.2024-28.2.2027 and the funding comes from the ERDF through the South Karelia Regional Council.
The Finnish Hydrogen Valley Association is a co-implementer of the project and brings together the different actors. Finland's Hydrogen Valley is responsible for communicating the group project and developing networked activities, communicating the network's objectives and expectations, gathering solutions to challenges in the operating environment and communicating the results to the region and decision-makers.
As part of the development of a communicative and networked hydrogen ecosystem, regional cooperation between businesses, municipalities and education and research organisations in the region will be strengthened. Communicate the expectations and objectives of the network and its actors to stakeholders and decision-makers and identify solutions to the challenges of the policy environment.
The work and results of the project will not only be communicated to the actors in the region, but also to the rest of Finland and international actors, so that we can become an increasingly attractive investment destination for the green transition and the hydrogen economy.
The project will organise its own events in the region and, where appropriate, nationally, to increase the implementation and impact of the green transition and hydrogen economy in south-east Finland. Finland's Hydrogen Valley will also contribute to the project by actively networking with industry players and decision-makers at events relevant to the project.
The Valley of Hydrogen Finland will play an important role in the implementation of the project through communication. This means actively communicating messages in support of the project through Finland's own channels and highlighting themes supporting the project in the media.
The task is to support and rely on communication to tell what projects are underway, what reforms are underway around the green transition and the hydrogen economy, and to know what should be done to strengthen business conditions.
The target groups are companies and project operators operating in the region, development companies, municipalities, regional associations and educational institutions, transmission network operators, other network operators in the sector, financiers, ministries, members of parliament, EU parliamentarians and media representatives.
In south-eastern Finland, good green energy conditions, large bio-based carbon dioxide reserves, plenty of clean water and strong know-how create the conditions for significant industrial growth in the region. Potential investments in the hydrogen economy would significantly improve the vitality of eastern Finland, as well as the country's energy solutions and overall security.
Tommi Siikaniva
Communications Specialist