Connect with us

Technology

VTT Info: Finland lays the groundwork for large-scale underground hydrogen storage in crystalline bedrock

Published

6 hours ago

on

ESPOO, Finland, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As Europe scales up renewable hydrogen production, large-scale hydrogen storage will be needed to balance production and consumption. A new Finnish study by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Geological Survey of Finland GTK, together with companies operating in Finland’s hydrogen economy, shows that underground hydrogen storage can also be developed in crystalline bedrock – an important finding for countries and regions that cannot rely on salt caverns.

Underground hydrogen storage is needed to balance hydrogen production and use over days and weeks, not just hours. While hydrogen transmission pipelines can provide short-term flexibility, multi-day balancing requires large underground storage facilities. The findings are particularly relevant for Finland, which aims to become one of Europe’s leading hydrogen economies but lacks the underground salt caverns that are available for hydrogen storage in many other European countries.

“Developing underground hydrogen storage facilities is a lengthy and capital-intensive undertaking. The project estimated that constructing a 40,000 m³ storage facility would cost approximately EUR 30 million. Including planning and permitting phases, the overall project duration would be four to five years,” says Pasi Valkokari, Senior Scientist at VTT and project leader of the research initiative. 

In a joint research project funded by Business Finland, VTT and GTK have, for the first time, carried out a comprehensive assessment of the requirements for hydrogen storage under Finnish conditions. The HUG project also involved nearly twenty companies operating in Finland’s hydrogen economy. 

“The project has generated valuable knowledge on underground hydrogen storage alternatives and improved understanding of both the opportunities and the remaining uncertainties that need to be resolved. The results provide a strong foundation for developing large-scale hydrogen storage as an integral part of future hydrogen systems,” says Satu Sipola, Vice President, Hydrogen and Power-to-X, at Fortum Power and Heat. 

Storage cavern design and safety require further research

Existing underground salt caverns in Central Europe and the United Kingdom can be used for hydrogen storage as they provide naturally gas-tight conditions. Finland, however, lacks suitable salt formations, meaning that storage caverns must be excavated in crystalline bedrock and gas-tightness created with technical solutions. This makes Finland a relevant test case for other regions where salt cavern storage is not available.

“The geological site selection, site investigations, and material studies for a hard rock hydrogen storage facility are essential to ensure that the surrounding bedrock remains stable and that safety is not compromised if hydrogen were to react with other materials,” says Teemu Lindqvist, Geologist at GTK. 

The joint study examined the feasibility of locating large underground hydrogen storage caverns in Finnish bedrock. As an outcome, the project developed a high-level storage concept covering storage structure design, operating models, geological and safety requirements, technical and societal risks, investment needs, and ecosystem models. In addition to the findings, several important technical, commercial and regulatory questions remain and will require further investigation. 

“We are now preparing the next phase of the research with the industry consortium and aim to continue developing the research-based design requirements that will enable the development of a pilot facility and a replicable storage concept for wider deployment,” says Jutta Nyblom, who is responsible for industrial collaboration in the project and for preparing the initiative at VTT. 

Phased development of hydrogen economy

Finland’s hydrogen economy is expected to develop in stages. The first phase will see the emergence of regional hydrogen clusters. As hydrogen production and consumption volumes grow, dedicated storage facilities will become a critical enabler of commercially viable hydrogen value chains by helping to stabilise hydrogen prices and availability.

Initially, smaller storage solutions will suffice. However, the need for medium-scale underground hydrogen storage facilities with a volume of 10,000 to 40,000 cubic metres is expected to grow rapidly. 

“Public investment support is critical to accelerating green hydrogen investment and the development of Finland’s hydrogen economy, as well as ensuring that storage projects can move forward without delay.  Alongside public support, projects will require close collaboration across value chains, a stable and predictable regulatory environment, and firm offtake commitments to move forward,” says VTT’s Pasi Valkokari. 

Industrial partners of the HUG project 
AFRY Finland Oy
BusinessOulu
Danfoss Drives Oy
DEKRA Industrial Oy
EDR Medeso Oy
Energiateollisuus ry
Fortum Power and Heat Oy
Gasgrid vetyverkot Oy
Geomachine Oy
Green North Energy Oy
Helen Oy
Lujabetoni Oy
Mincon Nordic Oy
Neste Oyj
St1 Oy
Sweco Finland Oy
Valmet Automation Oy
Vantaan Energia Oy

The project was primarily funded by Business Finland. Research activities were carried out by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and the Geological Survey of Finland GTK. 

CONTACT:

For additional information:

Read the full report here
Media material with pictures and infographic
HUG website

VTT
Pasi Valkokari, Senior Scientist
pasi.valkokari@vtt.fi
+358 40 827 8919

Jutta Nyblom, Senior Scientist for industry collaboration and HUG2 project preparation
jutta.nyblom@vtt.fi
+358 40 538 8430

Geological Survey of Finland GTK
Teemu Lindqvist, Project Manager
teemu.lindqvist@gtk.fi
+358 29 503 2171

Fortum
Fortum NewsDesk, newsdesk@fortum.com, +358 40 198 2843

Further information on VTT:

Satu Holm-Jumppanen
Manager, Communications
+358 50 305 4718, satu.holm-jumppanen@vtt.fi 
www.vtt.fi

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/vtt-info/r/finland-lays-the-groundwork-for-large-scale-underground-hydrogen-storage-in-crystalline-bedrock,c4409753

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/642/4409753/4323899.pdf

Finland lays the groundwork for large-scale underground hydrogen storage in crystalline bedrock

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/vtt-info-finland-lays-the-groundwork-for-large-scale-underground-hydrogen-storage-in-crystalline-bedrock-302912362.html

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Technology

Eqvista Launches Company-Sponsored Tender Offers, Expanding Private Market Liquidity Capabilities

Published

29 minutes ago

on

October 19, 2026

By

New tender offer capabilities connect equity management with real-time valuation data covering approximately 65,000 private companies with a combined estimated value of $9 trillion, laying the groundwork for future secondary marketplace capabilities.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Eqvista, a leading equity management and valuation platform serving more than 25,000 companies, today announced the launch of company-sponsored tender offer capabilities, enabling private companies to organize structured liquidity events directly within their equity management platform. The launch also marks a step toward Eqvista’s planned secondary marketplace capabilities.

As companies stay private longer, employees and early investors face limited opportunities to sell their shares. Meanwhile, organizing liquidity events involves complex decisions around pricing, participant eligibility, approvals, and ownership changes.

Eqvista brings these processes together through a company-controlled tender offer workflow, supported by its equity management infrastructure and Eqvista Real-Time Company Valuation® technology.

“With Eqvista, private companies can help their employees and early investors turn their shares into cash, rewarding them for their contributions to the company,” said Tomas Milar, Founder and CEO of Eqvista. “We already help companies manage ownership and understand their value. Bringing tender offers into the same platform is a natural next step toward connecting equity management, valuation, and liquidity.”

Company-Controlled Tender Offers

Eqvista’s new capabilities allow companies to manage tender offers while maintaining control over participation, transaction terms, and ownership changes.

Key features include:

Cap table integration: Automatically record completed ownership changes.Participant controls: Define eligible buyers and sellers and offer windows.Allocation rules: Set transaction limits, pro rata allocations, and priorities.Integrated approvals: Manage approval requirements and rights of first refusal.Valuation-informed pricing: Reference Eqvista Real-Time Company Valuation® data when evaluating transaction pricing.

By integrating these processes, Eqvista aims to reduce the administrative complexity of organizing liquidity events while helping companies maintain control over their shareholder base.

Building Toward a Secondary Marketplace

Building on its company-sponsored tender offer capabilities, Eqvista plans to expand into secondary marketplace infrastructure designed to support structured, company-approved liquidity programs. By connecting ownership records, real-time valuation data, and private share transactions within one platform, Eqvista aims to make private market liquidity more accessible while allowing companies to maintain control over participation and ownership changes. Further details will be announced as development progresses, subject to applicable regulatory requirements.

Learn more about Eqvista’s Company-Sponsored Tender Offers.

About Eqvista

Eqvista is an equity management and valuation platform building infrastructure for private markets. Trusted by more than 25,000 companies worldwide, Eqvista combines equity management, in-house valuation expertise, and AI-powered technology to help private companies manage ownership and understand their value. Eqvista Real-Time Company Valuation® technology covers approximately 65,000 U.S. private companies representing an estimated $9 trillion in combined value.

Contact Information
Jakub Vele
Head of Marketing
424978@email4pr.com
+1 (415) 375-4963

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eqvista-launches-company-sponsored-tender-offers-expanding-private-market-liquidity-capabilities-302911472.html

SOURCE Eqvista

Continue Reading

Technology

Eqvista Launches Company-Sponsored Tender Offers, Expanding Private Market Liquidity Capabilities

Published

29 minutes ago

on

October 19, 2026

By

New tender offer capabilities connect equity management with real-time valuation data covering approximately 65,000 private companies with a combined estimated value of $9 trillion, laying the groundwork for future secondary marketplace capabilities.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Eqvista, a leading equity management and valuation platform serving more than 25,000 companies, today announced the launch of company-sponsored tender offer capabilities, enabling private companies to organize structured liquidity events directly within their equity management platform. The launch also marks a step toward Eqvista’s planned secondary marketplace capabilities.

As companies stay private longer, employees and early investors face limited opportunities to sell their shares. Meanwhile, organizing liquidity events involves complex decisions around pricing, participant eligibility, approvals, and ownership changes.

Eqvista brings these processes together through a company-controlled tender offer workflow, supported by its equity management infrastructure and Eqvista Real-Time Company Valuation® technology.

“With Eqvista, private companies can help their employees and early investors turn their shares into cash, rewarding them for their contributions to the company,” said Tomas Milar, Founder and CEO of Eqvista. “We already help companies manage ownership and understand their value. Bringing tender offers into the same platform is a natural next step toward connecting equity management, valuation, and liquidity.”

Company-Controlled Tender Offers

Eqvista’s new capabilities allow companies to manage tender offers while maintaining control over participation, transaction terms, and ownership changes.

Key features include:

Cap table integration: Automatically record completed ownership changes.Participant controls: Define eligible buyers and sellers and offer windows.Allocation rules: Set transaction limits, pro rata allocations, and priorities.Integrated approvals: Manage approval requirements and rights of first refusal.Valuation-informed pricing: Reference Eqvista Real-Time Company Valuation® data when evaluating transaction pricing.

By integrating these processes, Eqvista aims to reduce the administrative complexity of organizing liquidity events while helping companies maintain control over their shareholder base.

Building Toward a Secondary Marketplace

Building on its company-sponsored tender offer capabilities, Eqvista plans to expand into secondary marketplace infrastructure designed to support structured, company-approved liquidity programs. By connecting ownership records, real-time valuation data, and private share transactions within one platform, Eqvista aims to make private market liquidity more accessible while allowing companies to maintain control over participation and ownership changes. Further details will be announced as development progresses, subject to applicable regulatory requirements.

Learn more about Eqvista’s Company-Sponsored Tender Offers.

About Eqvista

Eqvista is an equity management and valuation platform building infrastructure for private markets. Trusted by more than 25,000 companies worldwide, Eqvista combines equity management, in-house valuation expertise, and AI-powered technology to help private companies manage ownership and understand their value. Eqvista Real-Time Company Valuation® technology covers approximately 65,000 U.S. private companies representing an estimated $9 trillion in combined value.

Contact Information
Jakub Vele
Head of Marketing
424978@email4pr.com
+1 (415) 375-4963

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eqvista-launches-company-sponsored-tender-offers-expanding-private-market-liquidity-capabilities-302911472.html

SOURCE Eqvista

Continue Reading

Technology

Eqvista Launches Company-Sponsored Tender Offers, Expanding Private Market Liquidity Capabilities

Published

29 minutes ago

on

October 19, 2026

By

New tender offer capabilities connect equity management with real-time valuation data covering approximately 65,000 private companies with a combined estimated value of $9 trillion, laying the groundwork for future secondary marketplace capabilities.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Eqvista, a leading equity management and valuation platform serving more than 25,000 companies, today announced the launch of company-sponsored tender offer capabilities, enabling private companies to organize structured liquidity events directly within their equity management platform. The launch also marks a step toward Eqvista’s planned secondary marketplace capabilities.

As companies stay private longer, employees and early investors face limited opportunities to sell their shares. Meanwhile, organizing liquidity events involves complex decisions around pricing, participant eligibility, approvals, and ownership changes.

Eqvista brings these processes together through a company-controlled tender offer workflow, supported by its equity management infrastructure and Eqvista Real-Time Company Valuation® technology.

“With Eqvista, private companies can help their employees and early investors turn their shares into cash, rewarding them for their contributions to the company,” said Tomas Milar, Founder and CEO of Eqvista. “We already help companies manage ownership and understand their value. Bringing tender offers into the same platform is a natural next step toward connecting equity management, valuation, and liquidity.”

Company-Controlled Tender Offers

Eqvista’s new capabilities allow companies to manage tender offers while maintaining control over participation, transaction terms, and ownership changes.

Key features include:

Cap table integration: Automatically record completed ownership changes.Participant controls: Define eligible buyers and sellers and offer windows.Allocation rules: Set transaction limits, pro rata allocations, and priorities.Integrated approvals: Manage approval requirements and rights of first refusal.Valuation-informed pricing: Reference Eqvista Real-Time Company Valuation® data when evaluating transaction pricing.

By integrating these processes, Eqvista aims to reduce the administrative complexity of organizing liquidity events while helping companies maintain control over their shareholder base.

Building Toward a Secondary Marketplace

Building on its company-sponsored tender offer capabilities, Eqvista plans to expand into secondary marketplace infrastructure designed to support structured, company-approved liquidity programs. By connecting ownership records, real-time valuation data, and private share transactions within one platform, Eqvista aims to make private market liquidity more accessible while allowing companies to maintain control over participation and ownership changes. Further details will be announced as development progresses, subject to applicable regulatory requirements.

Learn more about Eqvista’s Company-Sponsored Tender Offers.

About Eqvista

Eqvista is an equity management and valuation platform building infrastructure for private markets. Trusted by more than 25,000 companies worldwide, Eqvista combines equity management, in-house valuation expertise, and AI-powered technology to help private companies manage ownership and understand their value. Eqvista Real-Time Company Valuation® technology covers approximately 65,000 U.S. private companies representing an estimated $9 trillion in combined value.

Contact Information
Jakub Vele
Head of Marketing
424978@email4pr.com
+1 (415) 375-4963

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eqvista-launches-company-sponsored-tender-offers-expanding-private-market-liquidity-capabilities-302911472.html

SOURCE Eqvista

Continue Reading

Trending