Europe’s Nordic countries have launched a research programme designed to accelerate collaboration in the development of a hydrogen economy.

The NOK60mn ($6.25mn) Joint Nordic Hydrogen Research Programme (JNHRC)— coordinated by financial institution Nordic Energy Research—has put out a call for proposals.

Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland all have hydrogen strategies in place. The research programme will be designed to help coordinate and complement these national strategies.

“This Nordic collaboration should create outcomes and impact of greater value for the countries involved than could be achieved through national activities alone,” says the call for proposals.

Examples of such added value include building critical mass; networking; sharing data, infrastructure and resources; enhancing scientific excellence; creating societal impacts; and contributing to research-based policymaking.

“This Nordic collaboration should create outcomes and impact of greater value for the countries involved than could be achieved through national activities alone” JNHRC

Only applications with at least two private enterprises from two different Nordic countries will be eligible for funding. Projects should identify and outline ambitious pathways towards 2030 and 2040 hydrogen value chains and infrastructure in energy hubs and operate continuously for up to three years from 2023.

Applicants can apply for up to NOK20mn for a consortium.

Industry group Business Finland; research organisations Icelandic Research Fund, Innovation Fund Denmark and the Norwegian Research Council; and government body the Swedish Energy Agency all contributed to the funding.

The two largest gas transmission grid operators in Sweden and Finland are already working together to develop a 1,000km cross-border green hydrogen network linking the two countries across the Bothnian Bay region by 2030.

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Author: Tom Young