Baltic countries complete NBHC pre-feasibility study

The Gas Transmission System Operators (TSOs) of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany’s Ontras have successfully completed a pre-feasibility study of the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor (NBHC). This significant study defines the key conditions for implementing the ~2500 km long hydrogen transportation pipeline aimed at transporting renewable hydrogen between the six countries. 

The corridor is projected to transport up to 2.7 million tons (Mt) of renewable hydrogen annually between the countries by 2040. The pre-feasibility study indicated that the NBHC can be one of the first operational cross-border hydrogen pipelines in Europe. The NBHC pipeline is currently planned to be 48 inches (1,200 mm) in diameter, with several compressor stations.

“This is by far the largest infrastructural push to develop green hydrogen industry in the Baltic States. It incentivises green energy investors to put their money into the new wind/solar + green hydrogen and Power-to-X projects and, if completed on time by 2030, will hugely help them solve the “take-off” problem which currently is putting lots of green hydrogen investments on hold”, – says Tomas Fedaravičius, president of China-Baltic Association of Industry and Business “China Baltic” (中国-波罗的海工商业协会).

In April 2024, the NBHC was publicly granted the status of the project of common interest (PCI) by the European Commission. The PCI status enables benefits such eligibility to apply for EU project funding and accelerated perming granting procedures.  

Moving forward, based on the pre-feasibility study results the TSOs now plan to commence work on the feasibility study covering the project‘s detailed technical analysis, commercial and economic assessment as well as the detailed implementation timeline of the NBHC.