Elering Advances Planning for Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor Through Estonia

Major Hydrogen Pipeline Project Underway

Estonian transmission system operator (TSO) Elering is actively involved in the planning of the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor (NBHC), a transformative project set to establish a hydrogen transmission pipeline connecting Finland and Germany, with a crucial segment passing through Estonia. The planning phase for this ambitious infrastructure is anticipated to span approximately three years, with completion projected by the first quarter of 2027.

The NBHC is a collaborative effort involving six gas system operators from the Baltic Sea region: Gasgrid (Finland), Elering (Estonia), Conexus Baltic Grid (Latvia), Amber Grid (Lithuania), Gaz System (Poland), and ONTRAS (Germany). This extensive pipeline is envisioned to be approximately 2,500 kilometers in length and 48 inches (1,200 mm) in diameter, designed to transport up to 2.7 million tons of renewable hydrogen annually by 2040.

Strategic Importance and European Integration

The development of the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor is a strategic move aimed at bolstering Europe's energy security and accelerating the transition to a decarbonized economy. The project aligns with the European Union's hydrogen strategy and the RePowerEU plan, seeking to reduce reliance on imported energy and support the achievement of climate goals.

For Estonia, the pipeline offers both economic and strategic advantages. Siim Iimre, head of research and development at Elering, stated, 'Europe is planning an entirely new energy infrastructure for hydrogen transport and Germany wants to import hydrogen energy from Finland. Estonia's interest should be for the pipeline to pass through its territory. In addition to transit revenue, this would create further opportunities for Estonia's economy and industry.' Elering has formally requested the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications to initiate a special national plan to define the conditions for the hydrogen corridor within Estonia.

Project Milestones and Funding

The project has already achieved significant milestones. A pre-feasibility study, initiated in January 2024, was completed in September 2024, providing a comprehensive framework for the technical, legal, organizational, and economic aspects of the corridor. Following this, the project partners commenced work on the feasibility study in the second half of 2024.

Financial support for the feasibility phase has been secured through a €6.8 million grant from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), a European Union fund for cross-border energy infrastructure projects. This funding will enable in-depth analyses of the project's technical, economic, regulatory, and environmental dimensions. The grant agreement was officially signed on July 1, 2025, by the participating countries and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA).

Future Outlook

Upon the completion of the feasibility studies in 2027, national spatial planning processes will continue, alongside the development of more detailed technical solutions. The pipeline is anticipated to be completed by 2035. The Nordic-Baltic region possesses substantial renewable hydrogen potential, estimated at approximately 27.1 million tons by 2040, underscoring the corridor's role in facilitating a new hydrogen market and export opportunities towards continental Europe.