My Oulu: Three new hydrogen plants planned for Oulu
Pyyryväinen is located under 10 kilometres from the city center of Oulu.
Jaa sosiaalisessa mediassa:
The City of Oulu has been preparing to reserve land for three new hydrogen production and processing plants. The City’s aim is to actively promote green transition investments in its area. Advancing the planning of three new hydrogen plants will support the growth of hydrogen economy and the development of Oulu's local hydrogen infrastructure.
The planning reservations for the Pyyryväinen site will be discussed by the City of Oulu Urban Environment Committee at its meeting on 8 April 2025. The site is a virtually undeveloped, large-scale industrial area of up to 800 hectares less than 10 kilometres from the centre of Oulu, next to the Välikylä industrial district. The area required by businesses ranges from 15 hectares to 41 hectares.
The plants would produce hydrogen and synthetic fuels processed from hydrogen, both for local use and for export via the Port of Oulu and a new hydrogen pipeline all the way to central Europe. Hydrogen would be produced from water by electrolysis in an emission-free way, using wind power and other potential renewable electricity. Hydrogen refinery products, such as sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF), are produced from hydrogen and biogenic carbon dioxide.
Earlier this winter, the City of Oulu and Verso Energy of France signed an agreement aiming at building a hydrogen processing plant in Oritkari, Oulu, near the port. Furthermore, local energy company Oulun Energia is planning to build a hydrogen production plant in Laanila, Oulu.
International companies involved
The first phase of Energiequelle Oy’s project would involve the construction of a hydrogen production plant of up to five megawatts (MW) and a hydrogen refuelling station for buses and other heavy vehicles. In the next phase, the capacity of the hydrogen production plant would be increased by 10–50 MW and hydrogen exports would also be launched. In the third phase, production would be further increased by an additional 100–500 MW. The final size of the second and third phases will depend on the market situation and the infrastructure available at Pyyryväinen.
Energiequelle estimates that the employment impact after completion of the first phase would be around 10 jobs in plant operation, maintenance, administration and support activities. The employment impact of the second and third phases would be significantly higher. The phases would be completed between 2028 and 2033. Energiequelle Oy’s parent company is Energiequelle GmbH of Germany.
The size of the hydrogen plant planned by ABO Energy Suomi Oy would be up to 600 MW. Implementation would take place in 2–3 phases if the project proceeds. In addition to hydrogen production, the company is also exploring the possibility of producing methanol from hydrogen as well as sustainable aviation fuel, E-SAF, the realisation of which depends on the availability of biogenic carbon dioxide. ABO Energy would offer the waste heat generated for use as district heating in the Oulu region. The first phase could be deployed around 2034–2036. If realised, the hydrogen plant could employ at least 50–80 people, depending on the final size of the hydrogen plant. ABO Energy Finland Oy’s parent company is the German ABO Energy.
Furthermore, a third company is planning to build about 400 MW of electrolysis capacity for hydrogen production in the region. The first phase of the plant is tentatively scheduled to be deployed in 2030. The company estimates the employment impact of the project to be around 150–300 people when the plant is fully operational.