First AFIR compliant HRS to open 2025 in Finnish Jyväskylä / Helen to produce green hydrogen from 2026 on in 3H2 Helsinki Hydrogen Hub

The first speaker; Esa Eerola, Project Manager, Central Finland Mobility Foundation (Cefmof) presented hydrogen projects and initiatives of the company. Cefmof was established in January of 2024 by the City of Jyväskylä, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team, and Toyota Mobility Foundation, and is promoting carbon neutral mobility.

Cefmof has taken active steps to build awareness around hydrogen as a sustainable energy source. Notable initiatives include:

Hydrogen Energy Exhibition (Aug-Sep 2024), which was targeted primarily at young audiences (10-12 years old), to build interest in hydrogen energy in the future. A digital version of the exhibition is being considered.

Collaboration with an art event where they showcased a hydrogen-powered pizza oven (Sept 2024). The goal was to demonstrate hydrogen’s safety and versatility. The event attracted 30,000 attendees, and Cefmof is considering similar future events.

Infrastructure and pilot projects Cefmof are developing: The first hydrogen refueling station, designed for buses and trucks, entirely fulfilling the AFIR requirements and planned jointly with the HRS developer Vireon Hydrogen, is set to open in June 2025 in Jyväskylä to support a pilot of five hydrogen buses Caetano H2 City Gold, each with a range of about 450 km. Vireon Hydrogen is planning to develop a network of five hydrogen refueling stations from Helsinki to Tornio, supported by an EU grant. In collaboration with Toyota Finland is introducing hydrogen passenger vehicles, such as Toyota Mirai, primarily targeting taxi companies in the beginning. VISIOK Project with the University of Oulu aims to test hydrogen trucks in northern conditions, examining their performance on routes between Oulu and Jyväskylä. Hydrogen technology is being explored as a potentially more viable solution for heavy transport in Nordic climates, with the advantage over e-fuels and a possible cost advantage over diesel as production scales up.

Overall, Cefmof’s activities revolve around three main pillars—experience, ecosystem, and innovation—to foster a hydrogen economy in central Finland. Through infrastructure, awareness, and regional collaborations, they are testing the viability of hydrogen as a practical energy solution for Finnish public transport and heavy-duty vehicles.

The second speaker of the session, Saara Viik, Business Development Manager, introduced the carbon-neutrality projects and green hydrogen utilization project of “Helen”.

Helen, one of Finland’s largest electricity providers, serves approximately 560,000 customers with electricity, heating, cooling, and renewable energy solutions. The company, employing 768 people, is targeting carbon neutrality by 2030, with a commitment to end all combustion-based energy production by 2040. Currently, 55% of Helen’s energy production is carbon neutral, supplying about 6% of Finland’s electricity (4.7 TWh) and 18% of its heat (6.7 TWh). They are also set to phase out coal next year. Helen aims to install over 2,000 MW of renewable production capacity by 2025 to replace fossil fuels. By 2030, they plan to reduce emissions by 95% from 1990 levels.

Helen is enhancing the flexibility of its energy production to better handle fluctuations, aiming for profitability while meeting EU-driven demand for green hydrogen.Furthermore,  they established a dedicated hydrogen team three years ago, which consists of 15 members working to integrate green hydrogen with other business lines. Utilizing renewable energy and electrolyzers, Helen will produce green hydrogen primarily for heavy-duty transport, with the first commercial-scale hydrogen pilot, the 3H2 Helsinki Hydrogen Hub, set to launch in 2026. The hub will use waste heat to improve district heating efficiency. The company also plans to leverage green hydrogen for producing synthetic fuels, green ammonia, and food. Helen is planning a large-scale hydrogen production plant at their Vuosaari facility. In partnership with Neste, Gasgrid Finland, and Vantaa Energy, Helen is developing the Uusimaa (Helsinki region) hydrogen valley, which combines infrastructure, storage, and renewable hydrogen transmission to serve both producers and consumers. With Vireon, a company founded in 2023, Helen is building hydrogen refueling stations for heavy trucks in the Helsinki region. Vireon has previously worked to promote hydrogen refueling in other Nordic countries as well.

Helen’s strategic move into green hydrogen aligns with regional goals to address transport emissions, which are projected to be Helsinki region’s largest source of pollution by 2025. Through partnerships and sustainable infrastructure, Helen aims to play a key role in Helsinki region transition to a carbon-neutral energy landscape.

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