A Deep Dive into Finland’s Hydrogen Expertise
Ahead of the conference, HyTruck partners visited Aalto University’s Hydrogen Innovation Centre and VTT’s hydrogen laboratories. The group explored ongoing work ranging from materials research and electrolyser development to fuel-cell propulsion technologies for maritime applications, demonstrating the depth of Finnish know-how and its relevance for future heavy-duty transport solutions.
A Full House for the Final Conference
The conference opened with remarks from Riku Huttunen, Director General at Finland’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, and Dr. Merten Barnert from the Representation of the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to the EU. Both underlined the strategic role of hydrogen in cutting emissions from heavy-duty transport and the need for long-term policy stability.
HyTruck partners then shared the core outcomes of the project:
- Spatial planning tools to identify optimal locations for hydrogen refuelling stations.
- Guidelines for authorities on permitting, site design and infrastructure planning.
- A consolidated overview of technical standards for hydrogen refuelling of heavy-duty vehicles.
- Techno-economic insights into producing and distributing green hydrogen cost-effectively.
- Regional and transnational development concepts mapping the current situation, gaps and future needs for a Baltic Sea-wide hydrogen refuelling network.
- A One-Stop-Shop online platform that supports future planning, knowledge sharing and investment preparation.
Together, these outputs form a comprehensive basis for coordinated deployment aligned with the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR).
Expert Perspectives on Hydrogen’s Future
A video greeting by Valerie Bouillon-Delporte from the Clean Hydrogen Partnership highlighted rapid progress in hydrogen heavy vehicles, citing fast refuelling, long range and high payloads as key advantages.
Professor Maria Grahn (Chalmers University of Technology) provided a scientific overview of hydrogen’s long-term role in freight transport, noting that while battery-electric solutions will cover short-distance operations, hydrogen offers clear benefits for long-haul applications.
A panel discussion featuring industry and research representatives echoed the same message: hydrogen remains essential for decarbonising heavy-duty transport, but must be accompanied by coordinated investment, harmonised standards and strong political commitment.
A Shared Commitment to Continue the Work
The conference concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding committing partners to continue cross-border cooperation as the Baltic Sea Region transitions to hydrogen-powered mobility. The MoU reflects a shared understanding that decarbonising freight transport requires long-term planning, regional alignment and close collaboration across sectors.
CLIC Innovation’s Perspective
Oleg Todorov, Project Manager at CLIC Innovation, emphasised the project’s significance for the region:
“HyTruck has shown that hydrogen mobility is not a distant vision but a practical pathway already taking shape. By bringing planners, industry, academia and policymakers around the same table, we have built a foundation that will outlast the project itself. The next steps demand the same spirit of collaboration – and the Baltic Sea Region is ready to move forward together.”
Access All HyTruck Tools
All key outputs developed during the HyTruck project, including modelling tools, development concepts, guidelines for authorities, catalogue of technical standards, techno-economic analyses and the One-Stop-Shop platform, are openly available for use by planners, authorities and industry stakeholders. The full set of resources can be accessed on the project website: https://interreg-baltic.eu/project/hytruck/