Estonia has begun the process of planning the route for the hydrogen corridor
Estonia has launched a special national planning procedure to determine the route of hydrogen pipelines within the North Baltic Hydrogen Corridor, which spans six countries. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications is currently seeking a consultant. Once a consultant is selected, planning and assessment of potential locations can begin.
Monika Korolkov, head of the special national planning project at the ministry, stated that the project is large-scale and requires detailed research, analysis, and cooperation with various stakeholders. During the planning process, consultations will be held with 24 municipalities. The government expects to identify potential routes by next year so they can be presented to landowners.
They are also considering the option of laying a corridor along the bottom of the Baltic Sea, which would directly connect Finland and Germany. According to Korolkov, Estonia is working to ensure that the route passes through its territory. She noted that an overland route would enable the country to serve as a link between the energy grids of Northern and Central Europe, strengthen energy security, attract investment, and create conditions for the development of a hydrogen economy.
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Siim Iimre, Head of Research and Development at Elering, said that to reduce the need for new land parcels, priority is being given to using existing gas and electricity infrastructure. At the same time, the search for a route is complicated by scattered development, nature reserves, and scenic areas. According to him, the main impact of the underground pipeline will occur during the construction phase due to the operation of heavy equipment and earthworks.
Further implementation of the project will depend on the completion of special planning in Estonia and other countries’ adherence to the schedule. Iimre stated that an investment decision could be made in early 2030, and if approved, the infrastructure could be completed by 2035. He also noted that about 80 companies have already expressed interest in producing or using hydrogen.
This week marked the deadline for submitting applications for cooperation under the government’s special planning process. The ministry will review the proposals and is expected to sign a contract with the winning bidder no later than October.
