BOWE2H
BOWE2H
The grave threat to global ambitions to keep global temperature rises below 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels means the energy transition must be accelerated whenever possible. While it is generally recognised that the best way to do this is wholesale electrification accompanied with a massive increase in renewable-power generation capacity, this still leaves some unresolved issues: clean renewable-power sources (wind and solar) are intermittent, and there are sectors, such as air transport or steelmaking, which are difficult or impossible to electrify. Moreover, renewable power is often produced far away from industrial or population centres, and existing power-transmission infrastructure has not been built with sufficient capacity to move such high volumes of electricity across such great distances.
Hydrogen is generally recognised as the best – or perhaps only – response to this conundrum, since it can be used both to store surplus energy and directly as fuel for transport or high-intensity industrial processes. If hydrogen-production plants are established near renewable-energy-generation facilities, they can convert excess power to hydrogen, which can be easier to transport or use in nearby industrial plants than pure electricity. The Baltic Sea, which has vast potential for wind-power generation, not least offshore, is a prime candidate region for such a strategy.
The Baltic Sea is densely used and strategically important, especially given the current geopolitical situation and the ongoing threat from Russia. It also has a tradition of cross-border cooperation and transnational networks going back centuries, which has experienced a resurgence since the end of the Cold War. While governments in the Baltic Sea Region each have their own strategies for the expansion of offshore-wind power and hydrogen generation, they also understand that these are best deployed in coordination and cooperation with each other. This fact is reflected by the fact that the region has the highest number of cross-border offshore-wind farms in the world, and more are in the pipeline.
Baltic Offshore Wind Energy to Hydrogen (BOWE2H) aims to create a transnational network and perspective to unite local governments, developers, grid experts, researchers, manufacturers and policymakers. These stakeholders have access to regional knowledge which they need to share with counterparts from other countries to achieve the best results within countries and across borders.
BOWE2H’s stakeholder network hosts six regional expert events, and aims to co-creatively produce a Strategic Roadmap for Regional Offshore Wind and Hydrogen Development. The kick-off and final conference are virtual, while four regional events (including co-creative workshops) are held in big upcoming markets for offshore wind in the Baltic Sea, specifically Poland, Lithuania, Sweden and Germany.
The event network enhances the capacity of stakeholders to act by providing them with an understanding of the necessary policy, grid, investment and research framework for offshore-wind and hydrogen-project development, and by connecting them with other stakeholders to enhance communication, coordination and cooperation. Upon completion, the Strategic Roadmap – built from a metastudy, interviews with expert stakeholders at the physical events and results from the co-creative workshops – will contain an infographic summary to be distributed to the project stakeholders and beyond.
The Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme has been instrumental in making BOWE2H possible. The Interreg brand gives the project a high profile and bolsters interest from stakeholders and decisionmakers at every level, from government agencies and universities to grid operators and the private sector. As such, support from the programme ensures the highest quality of input for BOWE2H’s results, by bringing distinguished speakers and participants to the physical events and getting high-quality information from stakeholders to inform the Strategic Roadmap. This ensures the highest possible relevance and dissemination for the project and its outputs.
Budgets
in numbers.
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0.47MillionTotal
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0.38MillionErdf
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0.00MillionNorway
Overview
The Challenge: Uniting a Region for Renewable Energy
The Baltic Sea region has immense potential to become a leader in renewable energy. Its winds can power millions of homes, and green hydrogen offers a clean way to store and transport energy. But turning this potential into reality isn’t simple. Countries in the region face different regulatory frameworks, technical challenges, and market dynamics. Without cross-border cooperation, efforts to develop offshore wind farms and green hydrogen infrastructure risk inefficiency, duplication, or even failure.
That’s where the BOWE2H project came in. Funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme, the project aimed to bring together governments, businesses, and researchers to overcome these barriers and create a shared vision for a greener future.
The Solution: Building Networks and Strategic Plans
BOWE2H tackled the challenge with a two-pronged approach: fostering collaboration through events and creating a roadmap to guide future actions.
The project hosted five in-person events across the Baltic Sea region, from Malmö to Vilnius, each bringing together experts from local and national governments, energy companies, and research institutions. These events weren’t just about exchanging ideas—they were designed to break down barriers and forge new connections across borders.
At the heart of BOWE2H’s work was the creation of a Strategic Roadmap. This comprehensive guide outlines how offshore wind and green hydrogen can be integrated effectively in the region, highlighting opportunities for cooperation, infrastructure planning, and policy harmonisation. To make the roadmap widely accessible, the team also created a concise, visually engaging infographic that summarises its key findings.
Evidence of Success: From Vision to Action
The results speak for themselves. The events connected over 400 stakeholders, creating a vibrant network of decision-makers, researchers, and industry leaders who are now better equipped to drive the energy transition. For example, discussions at the Malmö event inspired local authorities in Sweden to explore hydrogen applications for decarbonising transport, while Polish companies identified new opportunities for cross-border wind farm collaborations.
The roadmap has been distributed widely, with copies shared at the final Berlin conference and through digital channels. National agencies like the Lithuanian Energy Agency and enterprises like Energinet have already started using its insights to refine their strategies for renewable energy development.
Why Transnational Cooperation Matters
None of this would have been possible without cross-border collaboration. BOWE2H showed that the energy challenges of the Baltic Sea region don’t stop at national borders, and neither should the solutions. By bringing together partners from Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, Sweden, and beyond, the project ensured that its outputs addressed the shared needs of the entire region.
The project also highlighted the power of diversity. Each partner brought unique expertise to the table—whether it was IKEM’s knowledge of climate policy, Poland’s wind energy experience, or Lithuania’s hydrogen ambitions—creating a richer, more effective set of solutions.
The Legacy: A Blueprint for the Future
BOWE2H may have officially ended, but its impact is just beginning. The Strategic Roadmap provides a blueprint for action, and the network of stakeholders built during the project will continue to collaborate and innovate. With countries and companies already taking steps inspired by the project, the Baltic Sea region is well on its way to becoming a leader in offshore wind and hydrogen.
BOWE2H
in numbers.
- 52.518368713.4195853
- 56.950586524.1022499
- 53.38985218.1350909
- 56.887582114.7791829
- 54.687895125.27225266924317
- 53.430181814.5509623
Project partners
- TownBerlin
- Region
- CountryGermany
- RegionBerlin
- RepresentativeIKEM - Institute for Climate protection, Energy and Mobility
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- TownRiga
- Region
- CountryLatvia
- RegionRīga
- RepresentativeLatvian Association of Local and Regional Governments
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- TownVarel
- Region
- CountryGermany
- RegionFriesland (DE)
- RepresentativeGerman Offshore Wind Energy Foundation
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- TownVÄXJÖ
- Region
- CountrySweden
- RegionKronobergs län
- RepresentativeEnergy Agency for Southern Sweden
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- TownVilnius
- Region
- CountryLithuania
- RegionVilniaus apskritis
- RepresentativePublic Institution Lithuanian Energy Agency
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- TownSzczecin
- Region
- CountryPoland
- RegionMiasto Szczecin
- RepresentativePolish Wind Energy Association
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- E-Mail
- Web
Contacts
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Project manager, Communication managerAnika Nicolaas PonderIKEM
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Financial manager, Communication managerDàmir Belltheus AvdicIKEM
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Additional links
Events
17 |
April |
09:15 - 15:30 (CEST)
25 |
January |
08:45 - 16:30 (EET)
29 |
September |
09:30 - 16:00 (CEST)
22 |
May |
13:00 - 18:00 (CEST)
14 |
February |
09:00 - 12:00 (CET)