Energy system flexibility in hydrogen valleys requires integrated planning
A BalticSeaH2 webinar explored how hydrogen can support flexibility across energy, industry, infrastructure and storage. The recording and presentations are available below.
How can hydrogen valleys support a more flexible and resilient energy system? This question was discussed in the BalticSeaH2 webinar Energy system flexibility in hydrogen valleys, held on 7 May 2026.
The webinar focused on sector integration, hydrogen infrastructure, storage, system modelling and policy needs. The discussion highlighted that hydrogen valleys should not be seen as separate production, infrastructure or end-use projects, but as integrated energy and industrial systems.
One of the key messages was that hydrogen can link electricity, industry, transport, heat and CO₂ use. This creates opportunities to improve system efficiency, reduce costs and make better use of side streams such as excess heat, oxygen and biogenic CO₂. At the same time, the discussion underlined that these benefits do not emerge automatically. They require planning across sectors and value chains.
Flexibility was identified as a central condition for hydrogen economy development. Renewable electricity production varies, while many industrial users need stable supply. This creates a need for hydrogen storage, pipeline flexibility, demand-side flexibility and better system-level modelling. Pipeline networks can provide short-term balancing through linepack, but large-scale fluctuations require dedicated storage and flexible offtake.
The webinar also addressed the growing competition for renewable electricity. Hydrogen production, data centres, heat pumps and other industrial uses may all depend on the same electricity supply. This makes energy system planning and policy choices increasingly important. Data centres can support renewable electricity investments in the short term, but in the long term they should also contribute to flexibility where possible.
For Finland and the wider Baltic Sea region, biogenic CO₂ and excess heat were highlighted as important sector coupling opportunities. Biogenic CO₂ can support the production of hydrogen derivatives, while excess heat from electrolysis and other industrial processes can be used in district heating or new local applications.
Overall, the webinar showed that hydrogen valleys can play an important role in building a more flexible, resilient and integrated energy system. To realise this potential, hydrogen development must be planned together with electricity infrastructure, storage, industrial demand, CO₂ use and heat systems.