A large industrial-scale hydrogen plant planned in Oulu

Illustrative image of the Oulu hydrogen plant (P2X Solutions Oy).
Illustrative image of the Oulu hydrogen plant.

Oulun Energia is planning to build a hydrogen production plant in Oulu. When completed, the plant would be a big step towards clean energy production and thus a natural part of Oulun Energia’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. Partner for the project planning is the Finnish P2X Solutions, which is currently constructing a hydrogen production plant in Harjavalta.

This will be Oulun Energia’s first hydrogen project and significant even on the scale of Finland. The project will increase the vitality of the Oulu region and the development opportunities for industry as well as create new businesses and jobs.

According to the preliminary plan, the whole project planned in Laanila industrial area, would include an electrolysis plant with a capacity of up to 100 megawatts (MW), a carbon capture plant, a hydrogen and carbon dioxide storage, and a further processing plant whose final product could be methane or methanol, for example.

The project will contribute to the transition towards cleaner energy production

The products created by the hydrogen plant could be used to replace fossil fuels in road, maritime and air transport. According to the preliminary estimate, approximately 200–400 gigawatt hours (GWh) of heat energy per year would be created as a by-product, which could be transferred to the district heating network, while the oxygen could be recovered for industrial use.

“The heat energy gained would correspond to approximately 10–30 per cent of Oulu’s annual district heating demand. This would enable us to produce heat in an environmentally friendly manner and improve the competitiveness of district heating,” says Kimmo Alatulkkila, development director at Oulun Energia.

In addition, the project aims to investigate the possibilities of recovering the biogenic flue gases from local industry and power plants in the further processing of hydrogen.

The project development phase begins in the competent hands of P2X Solutions

The project development phase now being launched is led by P2X Solutions Oy, a Finnish pioneer in green hydrogen and Power-to-X technology. The company is currently constructing Finland’s first industrial-scale green hydrogen and synthetic methane production plant in Harjavalta in Western Finland.

“Oulun Energia is a pioneer in sustainable energy production in Northern Finland. It is great to be able to advance a joint project that shows that green hydrogen can also be a solution for cutting emissions from heat production. When completed, the capacity of the Oulu hydrogen plant would be up to 100 megawatts, which makes it very significant also on the scale of Finland. For P2X Solutions, the project would mean a significant scaling up of operations from our facilities in Harjavalta and Joensuu,” says Herkko Plit, CEO of P2X Solutions.

In the project development phase, the feasibility of the plant and location options are examined, and an impact assessment is carried out. The investment decision is estimated to be made in autumn 2025, and the plant could be ready by 2028 at the earliest.

Herkko Plit and Arto Sutinen
Herkko Plit, CEO of P2X Solutions Oy, and Arto Sutinen, CEO of Oulun Energia.

More information:

Herkko Plit
CEO, P2X Solutions Oy
+358 50 4620788
herkko.plit@p2x.fi

Kimmo Alatulkkila
Development Director, Oulun Energia
+358 40 6403441
kimmo.alatulkkila@oulunenergia.fi

Oulun Energia Oy

Northern Power to change the world

Oulun Energia is one of the largest urban energy companies in Finland. We offer sustainable energy and circular economy solutions with the backing of approximately 250 energy experts. We are boldly embracing the future to maintain the vitality of the North and ensure all of our comfort. Together, we are building the future in a way that future generations can be proud of. As pioneers in the energy sector, we are heavily investing in the circular economy and in new sustainable energy solutions. In addition to people, we also take responsibility for our environment: Our goal is to achieve carbon neutrality in 2030. https://www.oulunenergia.fi/

P2X Solutions Oy

P2X Solutions is a Finnish pioneer in green hydrogen and Power-to-X technology. We are accelerating the rise of the hydrogen market holistically and innovatively in all areas of the value chain. We operate as a producer and distributor of green hydrogen and synthetic fuel, and we supply hydrogen plants in a customer-oriented manner and on a turnkey basis, when needed. We are making the world cleaner—together. https://p2x.fi/