Finland’s hydrogen sector is energised by collaboration

In Singapore’s tropical heat, what could be more refreshing than ice cream? Meeting this need, in 2024 Japanese company Ajinomoto introduced ice cream sandwiches at its pop-ups in the city, along with a variety of mooncakes. These weren’t just any tasty treats – the offering was powered by Solein, a groundbreaking animal-free protein developed by Finland’s Solar Foods.

Solein has been touted as food made from thin air. Indeed, what makes this innovative microbial protein truly remarkable is its unique production process – one that includes select ingredients. Using a bioprocess similar to winemaking, microbes are fed carbon dioxide, hydrogen, oxygen, and small amounts of nutrients, resulting in a protein rich in all essential amino acids.

Beyond its nutritional benefits, Solein is a game-changer for sustainability. It requires 20 times less land than plant-based protein production and a staggering 200 times less than beef farming, making it a revolutionary step towards more sustainable food systems.

Needless to say, appetite is growing worldwide for Solein, and Solar Foods launched it in the US in late 2024. The innovation also topped a list of NASA’s alternatives for space food systems, so the sky is literally the limit.

Finland’s role in the hydrogen energy revolution

The use of hydrogen in Solein’s production reflects a global shift towards leveraging the simplest and most abundant element to create a sustainable future.

Hydrogen is increasingly recognised as a key clean energy source, particularly for fuel cells and hydrogen-powered vehicles, offering a viable path to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and combat climate change. Finland is at the forefront of this transition, driving green energy initiatives and expanding hydrogen production.

Such is the belief in the possibilities of the local hydrogen sector that Finland has set a bold target of producing one million tonnes of pure hydrogen by 2030 – accounting for 10 per cent of the EU’s target of 10 million tonnes.

“We have excellent conditions to become a hydrogen economy leader in Europe,” says Simo Säynevirta, chair of Finland’s Hydrogen Cluster, a network of experts actively growing the sector.

According to Säynevirta, Finland’s “abundant clean resources, water, and clean electricity,” stand as a big plus, which can be scaled to meet the energy demands of industries, particularly hydrogen production.

He also points to Finland’s “very stable society” as a key factor that makes it an attractive and secure destination for green industry investments – a trend that is steadily gaining momentum.

International collaboration fuelling Finland’s green hydrogen projects

In 2024, Finland took a major step forward in hydrogen development, commissioning its first projects focused on producing hydrogen for e-fuels and other industrial applications.

One key ingredient to the future success of these projects is cultivating international collaboration.

“Finland has ambitious low-carbon targets, supportive and predictable operating conditions for green industries, fossil-free energy, and a highly qualified workforce,” said Kristian Hauglum, CEO of the Norwegian energy company Freija AS, which recently announced plans to build a large e-methane production plant in the town of Nokia, close to the city of Tampere.

“The Tampere region is ideal, with the capacity to scale, access to biogenic CO2, renewable power supply, strong local partners, and proximity to export ports and the national gas grid,” Hauglum observed.

Foreign investment boosts Finnish green hydrogen expansion

The ambitious activities of Finnish companies are also catching the attention of foreign investors. In 2024, Swiss energy services provider and European electricity producer Alpiq acquired a majority share in Helsinki-based P2X Solutions, which is constructing Finland’s first industrial-scale green hydrogen plant in Harjavalta, Western Finland.

“Establishing a strategic partnership with Alpiq substantially strengthens our position and ability to scale up our business,” said Herkko Plit, CEO of P2X Solutions. “Furthermore, with Alpiq we can optimise our value chain of renewable electricity, green hydrogen and e-fuels.” 

The flipside sees P2X Solutions fitting perfectly into Alpiq’s strategy thanks to its hydrogen activities.

“We are glad that we can consolidate our position in Finland using the knowledge of CEO Herkko Plit and his team and can make a significant contribution to integrating renewable energy,” commented Amédée Murisier, member of Alpiq’s executive board.

Growing Finnish solutions for the transport and energy sector

International investment has also fuelled the journey of Finnish green hydrogen and power-to-gas developer, Ren-Gas.

“Ren-Gas has built an analytical, transparent and value-driven approach to business development together with energy companies and other stakeholders,” said Saara Kujala, CEO of Ren-Gas. “Based on this approach, Ren-Gas has succeeded in developing a portfolio of well-structured and financeable green hydrogen and synthetic methane projects.” 

Ren-Gas’ growth trajectory is backed by the global player Allianz Capital Partners, which invested 25 million euros in the company in 2022, becoming a minority shareholder.

“We see great potential in Ren-Gas and consider it an excellent opportunity to create green solutions for the transport and energy sector,” Igor Lukin, senior portfolio manager at Allianz Capital Partners, commented at the time.

The investment builds on Allianz’s belief in the Finnish energy sector that stretches back to 2016, following its support of electricity distribution company Elenia and several local wind farms.

“The Ren-Gas team has impressed us with regards to sector knowledge, operational experience, and commitment and managed to build a strong as well as tangible pipeline of energy transitions projects which we are excited to support in the future,” Lukin outlined.

Adding to the flurry of interest from abroad, in early 2025, Hycamite, a producer of low-carbon hydrogen and industrial-quality solid carbon announced that it has secured a total of 44 million euros in funding from local and international strategic and financial investors.

Putting learning into action

These early-stage developments bide well for a promising, hydrogen-focused future in Finland. Yet there is still much work to be done.

“Utilising Finland's potential requires research efforts especially in hydrogen derivative production processes, necessary electricity and gas infrastructure, and extensive collaboration between research institutions, industry, and authorities,” says Pertti Kauranen, chairman of Hydrogen Research Forum Finland, a research-based forum currently comprising 12 Finnish universities and research institutes.

“In addition, it is essential to verify the environmental benefits of selected processes and understand the role of international regulations in shaping the market.”