Hydrogen production facility planned in Latvia’s Port of Liepaja

Latvia’s Liepaja Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Authority and CIS Liepaja, a joint project management team established by Norwegian, Swedish and Latvian companies, have concluded a two-year reservation contract for the potential construction site for the renewable energy complex, that will include a hydrogen production plant, in the Port of Liepaja.

Specifically, a hydrogen production plant and a port terminal are planned for the energy complex by 2030, and the project’s leading partner is Clean Industrial Solutions.

By implementing the project, 80-100 new jobs for highly qualified specialists will be provided, promoting the development of innovative technologies and science and research-based training programs, Liepaja SEZ claimed, adding that the project will also create new supply chains and increase export opportunities, as well as promote international recognition and increase competitiveness of the city and the port.

Tor Arne Pedersen, CEO of Clean Industrial Solutions, said that the total planned investment amount for the construction of the hydrogen production plant with a capacity of 1000 MW and an estimated production volume of 150 000 tons of hydrogen will reach circa €1 billion, noting that the hydrogen market demand in the near future will be enormous, thus Latvia, and Liepaja in particular, is now facing a great opportunity to launch the project.

Uldis Hmieļevskis, CEO of Liepaja SEZ, commented: “CIS Liepaja is a project whose goal is to promote the provision of CO2-neutral energy for the EU internal market. We are pleased that one of the first modern hydrogen production plants is planned to be built right in the territory of the Liepaja Special Economic Zone, which fits in perfectly with the plans of “Fokker Next Gen N.V.” company to establish a new generation hydrogen-powered aircraft assembly plant at the Liepaja Airport. And these are not the only projects that we implement together with entrepreneurs to transform port operations and industry in accordance with the European Green Course.”