A planned 2,500-kilometre regional energy artery has secured strong initial market backing, with potential customers expressing interest in 87% of its projected 2040 transport capacity, project developers announced Thursday.

The consortium behind the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor (NBHC) said a recent non-binding call for proposals validated the pipeline’s technical and commercial viability.

The group received 93 responses representing 108 individual projects across Eastern and Northern Europe.

According to the pipeline operators, market demand is projected to reach an annual 79.2 terawatt-hours by 2040.

Once fully operational, the pipeline is designed to transport up to 2.7 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually, serving as a critical piece of Europe’s decarbonization infrastructure.

The market assessment indicates that Germany is set to become the network's largest hydrogen consumer. To meet this demand, the pipeline will transport surplus hydrogen produced in Finland and the Baltic States south across the region.

Poland is also expected to be a key demand center, as its heavy industrial consumption is projected to consistently outpace domestic production capacity.

The ambitious pipeline project is led by a consortium of six regional transmission system operators: Gasgrid Finland, Elering (Estonia), Conexus Baltic Grid (Latvia), Amber Grid (Lithuania), Gaz-System (Poland), and Ontras (Germany).

By linking hydrogen producers, underground storage facilities, and industrial end-users, the cross-border pipeline aims to create an integrated hydrogen market across Eastern Europe.

Designated as an official EU Project of Common Interest, the pipeline initiative received €6.8 million ($7.9 million) in early-stage funding from the European Union.

The project entered its formal feasibility phase in 2025, which is scheduled to conclude next year.

Although the initial interest gathered from market players remains non-binding, the consortium aims to bring the hydrogen pipeline into commercial operation by 2033.

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