Sweden’s Uniper seeking site for Luleå hydrogen hub

LULEÅ, IN NORTHERN Sweden, and Uniper Sweden have agreed to move ahead to the next phase of the BotnialänkenH2 hydrogen project. Under the terms of an agreement announced yesterday, Uniper Sweden will now seek to find a suitable location for a hydrogen plant that could provide as many as 100 jobs.

Together with the port of Luleå, Luleå Energi, ABB and ESL Shipping, Uniper plans to establish a regional hydrogen hub in Luleå. The hydrogen it produces would be used by local manufacturing firms, converted to electro-fuel for shipping or exported.

Carina Sammeli, a member of the Luleå council, said: “Hydrogen made from renewable energy plays an important role in the green transformation of industry. The hydrogen will be used in industry and for transport. It is very gratifying that Uniper chooses Luleå as the location for its hydrogen hub.”

Johan Sjökvist, of Luleå Business Region, a municipal firm that works for long-term and sustainable business development, said: “A hub in Luleå to supply shipping with fossil-free fuel will be an important piece of the puzzle in the value chain, not least when Luleå harbour is expanded. The cargo flows will multiply and more and larger ships will use our port.”

Johan Svenningsson, CEO of Uniper Sweden, said: “The port of Luleå is a central part of the project with its strategic location and task, which makes it possible to develop logistics chains, both regionally and in Europe.”