Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Flexens, and Lhyfe have formed a partnership for the development and construction of an integrated energy island solution enabling large-scale offshore wind, green hydrogen production, and "other local anchored value-creating activities on Åland," an autonomous region of Finland.
This project is planned to integrate large-scale offshore wind generation and hydrogen production. The ambition is to develop large-scale hydrogen production on Åland integrated with gigawatt-scale offshore wind in Åland waters for use both on Åland and in the wider European region, supporting Åland’s and EU objectives for energy security and decarbonization, the consortium said.
"Integrating offshore wind and green hydrogen production will provide Åland with a route to market for the untapped wind resources around Åland placing Åland as a key player in the green transition for the wider region. The exact configuration of the Åland Energy Island project will be developed in close coordination with the local government and other local stakeholders to maximize the benefits for Åland. CIP, Lhyfe and Flexens welcome the opportunity to discuss offshore wind and hydrogen development on Åland with all relevant stakeholders," Lhyfe said in a statement.
The consortium said it would create "substantial" value for Åland with respect to both social and economic gains by securing local involvement and employment in the project and adjacent activities.
"Moreover, the Åland Energy Island project will contribute to Åland’s ambitions of becoming a society based entirely on green energy while considering the preservation of the islands’ onshore and marine environment," said Lhyfe in a press release issued on behalf of the consortium.
“The development of the Åland Energy Island project will provide a value increasing route to market for the regional offshore wind supporting the ambitions of Åland regarding local value and job creation as well as supporting the energy transition and energy independence of the wider region. The strong complementary capabilities represented by the consortium partners enable the Åland Energy Island integrating offshore wind and hydrogen facilities to be structured and developed with the environmental, economic, and social interests of Åland in mind,” says Thomas Dalsgaard, partner at CIP.
"This partnership with CIP is a great recognition of Lhyfe's ability to develop large-scale onshore and offshore projects in the Nordic countries: it takes us to the next level. This project demonstrates how hydrogen can fit into a vast integrated renewable energy system with its capacity to store and transform renewable electricity. It’ll be a great role model for all Europe.” says Taia Kronborg, Chief Business Officer at Lhyfe.
“Flexens was founded around the test and demonstration project ”Smart Energy Åland” and has in that process developed an in depth understanding of both the Åland society and its energy system. We see an unprecedented opportunity to create and expand renewable energy related activities on Åland into a skills and knowledge based hub for the offshore based energy future in the whole Baltic Sea region," says Berndt Schalin from Flexens.