Six European energy operators have initiated the feasibility phase for the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor (NBHC), an ambitious onshore pipeline project designed to transport renewable hydrogen from Finland to Germany.

The proposed pipeline route will span six nations, beginning in Finland and crossing through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. 

Project promoters—including Gasgrid (Finland), Elering (Estonia), Conexus Baltic Grid (Latvia), Amber Grid (Lithuania), GAZ-SYSTEM (Poland), and ONTRAS (Germany)—stated the infrastructure is a critical step toward energy independence and resilience within the Baltic Sea region.

The European Union has granted the corridor Project of Common Interest (PCI) status, emphasizing its strategic importance to the continent's energy grid. 

Additionally, the project has secured approximately $7.9 million (€6.8 million) in Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) funding to support its current development stage. 

Comprehensive national and cross-border feasibility studies began this year and are expected to be completed by early 2027.

To ensure the pipeline’s design meets industrial demands, the consortium has launched a comprehensive market survey. This survey targets hydrogen producers, consumers, and storage operators to map transmission needs and collect non-binding signals that will inform the final routing and corridor design.

"The purpose is to map market needs for cross-border hydrogen transmission infrastructure and to collect indicative, non-binding signals that inform routing and corridor design," the project promoters said in a joint statement.

The survey evaluates six key areas: general company information, production, consumption, storage, distribution, and cross-border transmission. 

Stakeholders have been invited to provide data on their respective roles, with the results expected to shape the logistical backbone of the corridor.

By connecting the renewable energy potential of the Nordics with the industrial hubs of Central Europe, the NBHC aims to foster a competitive hydrogen market while significantly reducing carbon emissions across the region.