Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Pipeline Secures 87% of Planned Capacity
A market survey found strong commercial interest in the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor, with developers reporting demand for nearly 90% of the pipeline's planned transport capacity.
(P&GJ) — Developers of the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor (NBHC) said a recent market survey found strong commercial interest in the proposed cross-border hydrogen pipeline, with potential customers expressing demand equal to approximately 87% of the corridor's planned transport capacity.
The non-binding market consultation, conducted between January and April 2026 by transmission system operators in Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Germany, received 93 responses from 81 companies representing 108 hydrogen projects across production, consumption, storage, distribution and transportation.
The survey projects demand along the corridor could reach 79.2 TWh per year by 2040, compared with the pipeline's estimated transport capacity of 91 TWh, supporting the project's continued development. The proposed corridor is expected to begin commercial operations no earlier than 2033.
Project partners said Germany is expected to be the corridor's largest hydrogen market, while Finland is projected to become its largest production hub. Poland and the Baltic states are also expected to play growing roles as both producers and consumers as regional hydrogen markets develop.
"The market survey confirms structural demand along the planned route, underscoring the importance of the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor," said Ralph Bahke, managing director of management and development at ONTRAS.
"The results also show the market is still in an early stage of development. This highlights the need for effective de-risking mechanisms and a stable regulatory framework to support future investment decisions."
The project remains in the feasibility stage, with technical, economic and regulatory studies expected to be completed in 2027. Project developers said they will continue working with market participants to refine capacity needs and advance planning for the international hydrogen transmission corridor.