The Lithuanian hydrogen platform was established by the Ministry of Energy and 19 other organisations, Ministries, business associations and large energy companies. The participants are going to cooperate to achieve national and European energy and climate targets, by the creation and development of hydrogen technologies.
These technologies will contribute to the implementation of the objectives of the National Energy Independence Strategy, which main aims are to reduce the impact of climate change and the measure of air pollution, to raise competitiveness and strengthen energy security. The agreement also includes the development of a national hydrogen strategy, once measures and targets have been identified to promote the use of hydrogen in energy, industry and transport. The results are also going to be implemented in Lithuania’s National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP).
“Hydrogen technologies are seen as fundamentally transforming our energy and helping to make industry and transport green,” said Žygimantas Vaičiūnas, acting Minister of Energy. “In order to exploit the potential of hydrogen in Lithuania, the investment and legal environment, market opportunities and scientific potential must all be mobilised. To do this, we will first use the Lithuanian Hydrogen Platform, which brings together ministries, the strongest business associations and energy market leaders. Our goal is to implement innovative projects and develop a long-term hydrogen strategy by consolidating our capacity to properly represent Lithuania’s position in the EU and thus achieve a breakthrough in these technologies in Lithuania.”
The platform helps the country’s scientific institutions, businesses and public sector bodies to develop innovative hydrogen technologies and wishes to establish a programme for the development and promotion of clean hydrogen technologies. For the sake of the cause, the Action Plan for Strengthening the Lithuanian Energy Innovation Ecosystem has been approved and Lithuania’s DNA Plan for the Economy of the Future two million euros are earmarked for research into the use of hydrogen from renewable energy sources in the natural gas infrastructure.
Amber Grid, the Lithuanian gas transmission system operator (TSO), member of the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance, also signed the agreement and made a commentary on the establishment of the Lithuanian Hydrogen Platform:
“The role of the National Hydrogen Platform will be relevant in creating the ecosystem of the Lithuanian hydrogen sector,” said Nemunas Biknius, CEO of Amber Grid. “The current infrastructure and the infrastructure currently under development must be used optimally for the transformation of green energy. One of the main ways of transporting green hydrogen will be the gas network, so we are already involved in research, standard-setting and other activities. The Lithuanian gas system adapted to the new needs will be suitable for transportation of both hydrogen and biomethane. We believe that in the future, Lithuania will be seen not only as transit or energy importing country but also as an exporter of green gas.”
Amber Grid also started a cooperation with TSOs from other Baltic countries and Finland: a joint research is planned on gas quality and technical application of systems to the hydrogen mixture.
