Helen will build a green H₂ production plant in Vuosaari, Helsinki. This is Helen’s first H₂ project with which the company will increase its expertise to meet the needs of large-scale H₂ production and enhance the flexibility of the entire energy system. This is also the first green H₂ production plant to be built in Helsinki.

The capacity of the Helsinki H₂ Hub pilot plant project (3H2) will be approximately three MW. The produced H₂ will primarily be used through a H₂ filling station to be built in connection with the plant, which is mainly intended for heavy transport. It is also possible to deliver H₂ to customers in containers. The plant will be in the vicinity of Helsinki’s district heating network and the busy Vuosaari Harbour. The waste heat generated in the production process will be utilized in Helen’s district heating network, which means that the overall energy efficiency of the plant is over 90%.

“The 3H2 project is the first of its kind in the world, combining four different sectors: electricity, transportation, heating and H₂ as well as flexibility between them. H₂ is an essential part of Helen’s new strategy, and we are committed to investing in the development of the H₂ business. We are excited to start building Helsinki’s first green H₂ production plant,” said Sari Mannonen, SVP, New business and H₂.

The aim is to launch the H₂ production in the new plant in 2026 and open the filling station in 2027. The project will reduce CO₂ emissions by 3,700 tpy. The amount has been calculated considering the replacement of fossil fuels in heavy traffic and the utilization of waste heat in the district heating network. The project was granted an investment aid of €8.25 MM for large-scale demonstration projects on new energy technology by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. In addition, €292,500 of Environmental Penny funds were used for the containers to be obtained for the storage and transport of H₂.

In the 3H2 plant, H₂ will be produced with renewable electricity, which means that the production is emission-free. Traditional H₂ produced with fossil fuels causes significant carbon dioxide emissions. Reduction of emissions makes green H₂ an attractive alternative especially for heavy transport, but also for other sectors in which electrification is challenging.

This is the world’s first H₂ project, which is designed to be an integral part of the optimization of society’s overall energy system in the electricity, heat, transport and H₂ markets as well as to serve as the solution for the flexibility of the energy system. In this project, waste heat generated in H₂ production will be used in the district heating network in Helsinki, which means that the project is much more energy efficient than any project so far.

The aim of the project is to pilot green H₂ production and optimize production in terms of the demand for H₂, renewable electricity production and electricity market. In addition, we will use green H₂ production to make sure that the new H₂ technologies are functional. One important goal is also to maximize energy efficiency and increase flexibility in the energy system.

Helen has announced that it is planning to launch large-scale H₂ production in the Vuosaari power plant area after the construction of this pilot plant. We have also commenced preliminary studies on the development of an industrial H₂ valley in Uusimaa in collaboration with Neste Corporation, Gasgrid Finland Oy and Vantaan Energia Oy.