Press Release | Tampere, Finland | 10.09.2026 | 3 min read
Grid connection and electrification technologies will support the production of renewable e-methane and district heating, helping to fuel heavy road transport and reduce fossil fuel use and emissions in Finland and broader in Europe
Hitachi Energy has signed an agreement with Nordic Ren-Gas to deliver an integrated electrification solution to support its synthetic e-methane production plant (Power-to-Gas) in Tampere, Finland. Based on a systems approach, the project combines eco-efficient grid connection and power quality technologies to support the reliable operation of the facility, including the deployment of a 145-kilovolt (kV), SF₆-free, EconiQ®1 gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) and power and distribution transformers.
The European market for renewable synthetic fuels is entering a new phase of growth driven by the EU's Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) regulation. As part of this framework, fuel suppliers across all EU Member States must gradually incorporate renewable, hydrogen-based synthetic fuels into their fuel mix, creating long-term demand for e-methane and other Power-to-X fuels. The Tampere facility addresses this growing market need by producing renewable e-methane for heavy-duty transport and supporting Europe's decarbonization targets for the transport sector.
High-voltage switchgear is a critical component of the power grid, and its importance is even more pronounced as the energy transition advances. Traditionally, high-voltage switchgear has relied heavily on SF₆, the most potent greenhouse gas known, with a Global Warming Potential of 24,300 times that of an equivalent amount of CO2. By eliminating SF₆ emissions, Hitachi Energy’s EconiQ technology reinforces Nordic Ren-Gas’ commitment to minimizing its environmental impact and advancing a more sustainable grid. Its compact design is ideally suited for urban environments while minimizing both lifecycle costs and carbon footprint.2
Nordic Ren-Gas’ synthetic e-methane production plant in Tampere will produce renewable synthetic e-methane and district heating, with green hydrogen serving as an intermediate input in the production process. The production plant will form part of the production and distribution chain for clean Power-to-X (P2X) fuels for transport, supporting the transition to low-carbon transport. The plant will annually produce enough renewable e-methane to fuel, for example, approximately 500 heavy-duty trucks and carbon-free district heating sufficient to cover the annual heat consumption of 35,000 two-room apartments. As a result, fossil fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions will be significantly reduced.
We are delighted to be involved in this flagship project supporting Finland’s clean electrification and the development of a clean fuel production and distribution chain for heavy-duty transport.
Our eco-efficient high-voltage technology minimizes carbon emissions and serves as an excellent example of the advanced sustainable technologies that are helping build the clean energy future.
Hitachi Energy will deliver an integrated electrification solution to connect the facility to the grid safely and efficiently. By combining technologies as a system, the solution is designed to support a reliable power supply, stable operation, and future-ready performance for Nordic Ren-Gas’ Power-to-Gas production process.
Our cooperation with Hitachi Energy ensures a reliable and future-ready electrification solution for our Tampere facility. Demand for European e-methane is growing rapidly, and the renewable e-methane produced in Tampere will help meet this demand while enhancing security of supply and reducing emissions.
Construction of the synthetic e-methane production plant in Tampere has started, with commercial operations scheduled to commence in 2029.
The project also supports the broader shift toward sustainable grid technologies in line with evolving European regulation. The European Parliament and Council Regulation (EU) 2024/573, which came into force in 2024, restricts and phases out the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases, including SF₆ switchgear applications, by 2032. Depending on the voltage level, restrictions are already in effect, with a gradual phase-out planned over the coming years.3
Hitachi Energy is a global leader in electrification, powering the electricity era to meet the energy demands of today, and the next 25 years. As the energy arm of Hitachi Group, over three billion people depend on our pioneering, mission-critical technologies to power their daily lives. With over a century of innovation, we are addressing the most urgent energy challenge of our time: driving the evolution of the world’s energy system to ensure abundant, secure, affordable, and sustainable power for today’s generation and the next. With an unparalleled installed base in over 140 countries, we are the grid ecosystem partner across the utility, industry, data center, and transportation sectors. Headquartered in Switzerland, we employ over 56,000 people in 60 countries and generate revenues of around $20 billion USD.
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Through its Social Innovation Business (SIB) that brings together IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products, Hitachi aims to be a global leader in continuously transforming social infrastructure through digital, contributing to a harmonized society where the environment, wellbeing, and economic growth are in balance. Hitachi operates worldwide across four sectors – Digital Systems & Services, Energy, Mobility, and Connective Industries – as well as a Strategic SIB Business Unit focused on new growth areas. With Lumada at its core, Hitachi creates value by combining data, technology and domain knowledge to solve customer and social challenges. Revenues for FY2025 (ended March 31, 2026) totaled 10,586.7 billion yen, with 606 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 290,000 employees worldwide. Visit us at https://www.hitachi.com.
