Finland joins Europe in development of clean hydrogen

Electrification has dominated discussion on the efforts to reduce the impact of energy production on the climate for the past decade. While the increasing sales figures certainly signal a growing adoption of electric vehicles, the complete electrification of the globe’s vehicle fleets remains a distant goal. Alongside electrification, biofuels have been seen as a means of easing the climate impact on the way towards the electric, autonomous future, providing increased resource efficiency and reduced emissions over fossil fuels.

Now, however, hydrogen, or more specifically clean hydrogen, is gaining traction as a true alternative to electrification in the future of sustainable mobility. Hydrogen has long had its proponents, particularly in Japan, yet been seen as less feasible than electrification as a result of the challenges in, particularly, its transmission and distribution. However, the potential is great for the utilization of hydrogen as a means of, not only, fueling vehicles ranging from cars to heavier-duty vehicles such as airplanes and industrial equipment, but also as a means of storing and transferring energy.

The European Commission has signaled its strong belief in the potential for clean hydrogen to support the revolution in energy and mobility as well as the opportunities it offers European companies. Finland expressed its belief in this vision through its commitment to the development of a joint hydrogen technologies and systems value chain together with a group of European nations in participating in the planning of an IPCEI on hydrogen as part of a German-led group.

Read the manifesto to the IPCEI here
Read more about Finland’s commitment to clean hydrogen here.

Read Business Finland’s roadmap for hydrogen here.