Baltic Sea Region Hydrogen Council

About

The Baltic Sea Region Hydrogen Council aims to bring together representatives from industries throughout the hydrogen value chain to unlock the potential of hydrogen development in Baltic Sea Region and Ukraine.

The project intends to support the energy sector, industry and transports in bringing low carbon hydrogen solutions from niche to scale in the Baltic Sea Region and Ukraine, in their efforts to seek energy security and carbon emission reduction. The ultimate goal is to develop hydrogen economy and markets that work optimally both from the technical, economic and environmental perspectives across country borders. 

Cooperation is key

The Baltic Sea Region Hydrogen Council is a collaborative effort involving nine partners representing nine countries: (logotype, short bio and link to websites) 

• Vätgas Sverige, Sweden
• Latvian Hydrogen Association, Latvia 
• NEXUS Consultants, Poland 
• BotH2nia, Finland 
• Estonian Association of Hydrogen Technologies,  Estonia
• Lithuanian Hydrogen Energy Association, Lithuania
• Hydrogen Valley, Denmark 
• Ukrainian Hydrogen Association, Ukraina
• Hochschule Stralsund, Germany

Events

January 2026

Project BaHyRA will accelerate cooperation on hydrogen market development in Baltic Sea Region

The BaHyRA project, funded by the Swedish Institue, was launched by the Baltic Sea Region Hydrogen Council as a side-event to the Hydrogen Summit & Expo in Tampere 14–15 of January 2026. The aim of the project is:

• Advocacy and Awareness
• Hydrogen Ecosystem Mapping
• H2 Skills in the Extended Baltic Sea Region
• Liaison with Politicians and Public Decision-Makers

Björn Aronssson, Managing Director of Hydrogen Sweden, focused in his stage presentation on Sweden’s potential for building future market for green hydrogen. The difference between the approach to hydrogen from our two neighbouring countries is apparent.

Over 2000 participants had the possibility to listened to 80 speakers and meet 80 exhibitors. One of the official speakers was the project leader Pawel Seremak from Hydrogen Sweden who presented the Baltic Sea Region Hydrogen Council and BaHyRA.

– Finland has been slightly hesitant in investments in hydrogen but in the last couple of years they have taken a strong position in a Nordic context, says Pawel Seremak.

Up until this year Finland has lacked a hydrogen organisation. But now big companies like ABB, Gasgrid, P2X and others have stepped forward to put hydrogen on the national agenda.

– International companies have realised the potential for hydrogen in Finland and have initiated investments in production and storage, Pawel Seremak continues.

Big interest for the Baltic Sea Region Hydrogen Council

Our exhibition attracted a steady stream of interested visitors who looked for specific contacts in a country or area. Others were looking for project partners. The Baltic Sea Region Council even got invited to plan participation in some projects.

Many European countries showed interest in the conference. A lot is happening in fields where hydrogen can play a vast role: energy storage, carbon capture and use, e-fuels and district heating.

Some visitors wanted to know about the market situation in the specific countries we represented. Pawel Seremak makes a reflection on one special group of visitors:

– The young ones looking for contacts to get a job position gives hope for the future of Hydrogen.

Lots of valuable contacts made

Not only aspiring employees looking for a new position The Baltic Sea Region Hydrogen Council participated in a lunch with representatives from Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia and Germany where a verry rewarding dialogue took place. 

– We will continue our efforts to create a stronger voice within EU regarding the potential for hydrogen in and around the Baltic sea, concludes Pawel Seremak.

January 2025

Hydrogen Summit and Expo – Finland: A milestone for hydrogen development in the Baltic Sea region

On January 22–23, Tampere – Finland made history by hosting its first-ever Hydrogen Summit and Expo, an event that gathered over 1,500 participants, showcasing the country’s ambitions in the emerging hydrogen economy. The summit reinforced Finland’s strong position as a future key player in Europe’s hydrogen industry, with a particular focus on the production and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives.

Key takeaways from the conference: The road ahead for hydrogen in the Baltic Sea region

1. Regional collaboration is key
   One of the most prominent insights from the conference was the crucial role of cross-border partnerships in accelerating hydrogen development. Finnish stakeholders expressed a strong interest in deepening cooperation with Sweden, leveraging industrial and infrastructural synergies to boost hydrogen production and distribution across the Nordics.
2. Political commitment and investments drive progress
   With increasing political support and a surge in investments, hydrogen has now become a strategic priority for several countries in the Baltic Sea region. The event underscored a shared realization: without clear political direction and coordinated efforts, hydrogen’s full potential will take longer to materialize.
3. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) – A catalyst for future projects
   A major highlight of the conference was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the Baltic Sea Region Hydrogen Council platform. This agreement, involving six hydrogen organizations from Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, and Ukraine, aims to strengthen collaboration and create a unified hydrogen ecosystem in the region. This marks a significant milestone, paving the way for future projects, investments, and technological advancements.
4. The Baltic Sea Region – A future leader in sustainable hydrogen solutions
   With combined expertise, industrial capacity, and a shared vision, the Baltic Sea region is now positioned to establish itself as a global frontrunner in sustainable hydrogen solutions. The conference confirmed that the next step is to move from vision to reality – with concrete projects and implementation.

The Hydrogen Summit and Expo in Finland served as a crucial catalyst for future hydrogen initiatives. The clear message from the event was that the time to act is now – through collaboration, investment, and innovation, the Baltic Sea region can take the lead in Europe’s hydrogen transition.

For information about the project and if you are interested of joining, please contact Pawel Seremak, pawel.seremak@vatgas.se

Towards supporting EU hydrogen strategy

For Europe, this project strongly supports the EU’s hydrogen strategy and the REPowerEU plan, reducing the reliance on Russian energy imports. The project helps to achieve EU climate goals, such as the EU’s Green Deal program and the Fit for 55, paving the way to a new sustainable economy. 

The official signing ceremony at special reception at EUSBSR – EU strategy for the Baltic Sea Region in Riga, marks start of Baltic Sea Region Hydrogen Council project.

Who should participate in the Baltic Sea Region Hydrogen Council? 

This exclusive network is meant for ambitious actors from across the fossil-free hydrogen value chain, wanting to reach senior industry figures and decision makers, attend high-value meetings, and strengthen hydrogen chains with Baltic Sea Region and Ukraina energy markets. 

Partners

For more information about the project, please contact:

E-mail: pawel.seremak@vatgas.se