Finnish Hydrogen Valley Association expands its activities to South and North Savo and Kainuu  

The Finnish Hydrogen Valley Association was launched in early 2023 with the aim of promoting renewable energy production and the hydrogen economy in eastern Finland. The association was founded in cooperation between the City of Lappeenranta, regional development companies (Cursor Oy, Kouvola Innovation Oy, Business Joensuu Oy, Imatran Kehy Oy) and LUT University. The aim of the association is to promote the conditions for the economic exploitation of the production potential of renewable energy and hydrogen economy and the development of business based on these in eastern Finland.  

On Friday 1.12., the association organised an information meeting in Mikkeli for operators from the regions of South and North Savo and Kainuu. Nearly 30 representatives from municipalities, development companies, educational institutions, chambers of commerce and provincial associations arrived. In addition to investment opportunities in the hydrogen economy, participants had the opportunity to hear from experts from LUT University about regional hydrogen valley studies and renewable energy opportunities. 

New areas of activity reinforce the emergence of a hydrogen valley  

The network started with the regions of North and South Karelia and Kymenlaakso, and the municipalities, companies and development companies in the Loviisa region. The association now has over 30 members, more than half of whom are companies.  

The aim of the association is to attract significant renewable energy and hydrogen investments to eastern Finland and to form a network of subcontracting and cooperation, or cluster, around them. In this way, Finland's Hydrogen Valley will become a genuinely investment-attractive environment. 

The mission of the Finnish Hydrogen Valley Association is to acquire, produce and distribute information to public administration, energy companies, technology and service companies related to the hydrogen economy, project developers, media and other stakeholders in the renewable energy sector. 

Markku Heinonen, chairman of the Finnish Hydrogen Valley Association, sees the expansion of Hydrogen Valley to eastern Finland, also from the border regions to the west, as a natural continuation of the activities.  

• The expansion of Finland's Hydrogen Valley is guaranteed by the regional development funding from the Kainuu Regional Council, Heinonen says.  
• Project funding was included in the proposal of the State Secretary's working group on the vitality of eastern Finland to support network projects. The funding will make it possible to build the Hydrogen Valley organisation on a more sustainable basis, not only in Kainuu but also in the regions of North and South Savo. 

According to Arto Raedy's study, there is ample potential for wind power in eastern Finland, if conditions allow. Wind power in eastern Finland would have a major impact on balancing electricity prices, more stable energy production and security of supply.  

• The capacity of electricity transmission networks must be increased to ensure that the energy infrastructure is at a sufficient level for new investments in wind or solar power, not to mention the production of hydrogen and its downstream products," Heinonen says. 

According to Jami Holtari, the association's CEO, the realisation of Hydrogen Valley in eastern Finland requires cooperation between all the actors in the counties.
 

• Hydrogen Valley's role is to highlight and clarify the business opportunities for companies in the sector," Holtari emphasises.  
• The hydrogen economy will include not only the production, transport and storage of hydrogen, but also downstream processing and many subcontracting and service activities in the value chain. This offers great opportunities for all the regions of Eastern Finland for decades to come, to create new jobs, to create and attract new growing businesses and to keep Eastern Finland vibrant. 

For more information: 

Jami Holtari, Vetylaakso ry, CEO, 0400 551435, jami.holtari@vetylaakso.fi 

Markku Heinonen, City of Lappeenranta, Development Director, 040 5811998, markku.heinonen@lappeenranta.fi