In a resolute stride toward sustainable energy evolution, Conexus Baltic Grid, the gas transmission and storage operator of Latvia, has embarked on a comprehensive market study. The objective is to assess the multifaceted potential of hydrogen across the domains of demand, production, transmission, and storage within Latvia’s energy landscape.
This endeavor holds the promise of not only shaping Latvia’s hydrogen infrastructure development but also influencing the broader Baltic region’s clean energy transformation.
The impetus behind this significant undertaking is to contribute essential insights to the strategic planning of hydrogen infrastructure not only within Latvia but also in the neighboring countries. These nations are actively exploring the creation of “hydrogen valleys,” aiming to harness the synergy of combined storage and transmission infrastructure for green hydrogen, often referred to as “green gold” due to its role in decarbonization.
In a coordinated effort to ensure efficient and sustainable operations, Conexus has joined forces with national transmission system operators from Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany. Together, they have initiated the North-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor project. This ambitious venture aims to establish a cross-border hydrogen transmission corridor spanning from Finland through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland to Germany by 2030. Conexus is also charting a separate path by working on a regional hydrogen storage project, projecting a substantial capacity of over 10 terawatt-hours (TWh).
Central to the pursuit of decarbonization is the market study that Conexus has launched. This study is poised to be a cornerstone in the development of the North-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor project. Open to participation from all active entrepreneurs in Latvia, the study seeks to gauge interest and evaluate the potential for hydrogen infrastructure integration. The study will play a pivotal role in assessing the level of enthusiasm among both potential hydrogen producers and consumers for new hydrogen transmission initiatives, including the utilization of hydrogen pipelines and storage services over the coming decades—2030, 2035, 2040, and 2050.
Uldis Bariss, Conexus Chairman of the Board, emphasized the importance of this study in aligning the future energy transformation with existing infrastructure. By understanding stakeholder interest and exploring new energy forms, transmission system operators can strategically model the sector’s future trajectory.
The culmination of this comprehensive study will extend beyond insights; it will chart pathways for the hydrogen revolution in Latvia. The study aims to identify potential transmission corridors, interconnections, production facility entry points, storage entry/exit points, and consumer exit points to address demand. The study also seeks to ascertain the feasible transmission capacities that could enable the seamless flow of hydrogen across the region.
As this dynamic market study progresses, it is set to conclude on 1 October 2023. Its outcomes hold the potential to not only transform Latvia’s energy landscape but to galvanize the broader Baltic Sea region in its collective journey toward a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable energy future.
