Hydrogen pipeline could cross land of 1,000 property owners in southwest Finland

A planned national hydrogen transfer pipeline may affect nearly 1,000 landowners in Satakunta and Southwest Finland, where the 285-kilometre route would cut through farmland and forests, Yle reports.

State-owned energy company Gasgrid is developing the pipeline, which would stretch roughly 1,500 kilometres from the Tornio region along the west coast to eastern Uusimaa. In Satakunta and Southwest Finland, the route would pass through 18 municipalities, running from Merikarvia to Loimaa, with branches extending to Rauma and Naantali.

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) process is now underway, with public hearings held this week. Over 100 people attended a session in Pori on Tuesday, where concerns centred on the pipeline’s potential disruption to agriculture and forestry.

Farmers like Hannu Heikola from Kokemäki warned that construction could damage arable land, with the metre-wide pipeline—buried at least one metre deep—disrupting soil quality up to 10 metres on either side. “The topsoil has taken decades to become fertile. Digging a trench for the pipe will ruin cultivation conditions over a wide area,” Heikola said.

Gasgrid maintains that the route remains flexible, with final decisions not expected until 2027. Heli Virkki, head of the company’s hydrogen valley unit, said the path was chosen based on feedback from industrial developers, ruling out underwater sections due to technical constraints. Residential areas also require a 30-metre buffer zone.

Landowners can still influence the route by submitting feedback until the end of March, as part of the EIA programme. Gasgrid has launched an interactive map for property owners to share concerns, though the MTK farmers’ union has criticised the company’s responsiveness.

“Gasgrid says feedback can shape the route, but landowners need confirmation that their input is actually considered,” said Terhi Löfstedt, MTK Satakunta’s executive director.

Field studies on the pipeline’s ecological impact—including effects on insects, birds, and waterways—will continue until autumn. A second EIA phase is due by year-end, with further opportunities for public comment.