Elcogen has opened a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Tallinn, Estonia, positioning the company as one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of high-efficiency solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and electrolysis (SOEC) technology. Called Elco I, the 14,000 m² facility jumps Elcogen’s production capacity from 10 MW to 360 MW for components – cells, stacks and modules – that are integrated into third-party systems for a wide range of applications including distributed energy, off-grid and stationary power, industrial backup, green hydrogen production and Power-to-X solutions.
“This new facility is built for scale, speed, and global impact,” said Enn Õunpuu, CEO. “As demand for reliable solid oxide-based clean energy solutions accelerates worldwide, Elcogen is now uniquely positioned to deliver the high-performance technology the market needs, at commercial volumes.”
The facility integrates advanced automation, R&D capabilities, and sustainable design features to support international supply chains. It is powered by a 9 MW energy supply from the nearby Iru Power Plant and incorporates sustainability measures such as process heat reuse and thermal oxidisers to reduce emissions. The Iru power plant is capable of producing heat and electricity from up to 260,000 tons of mixed municipal waste per year.
With approximately EUR 50 million in capital investment, funding for the project was provided by Elcogen stakeholders, including Baker Hughes, a leading global energy technology company serving the energy industry and various industrial segments, and South Korea’s HD Hyundai, one of the world’s largest industrial conglomerates, renowned for its leadership in shipbuilding, heavy machinery, and energy innovation. The project also received support from the European Innovation Fund, which has committed an additional EUR 25 million to expand capacity.
“As the name implies, ELCO I serves as a flagship model designed to guide future development initiatives globally,” said Õunpuu. “It reflects our broader vision for international expansion and leadership in clean energy solutions,” adding, “We plan to eventually license our technology and manufacturing blueprint to trusted partners. This ensures consistent IP control while enabling local manufacturing – a particularly attractive proposition for markets focused on domestic production and resilient supply chains.”
Founded in 2001, Elcogen has grown into a strategic technology partner for global system integrators, supplying the fuel cell and electrolyser components behind many of the world’s most advanced clean energy systems. Its workforce now includes nearly 150 employees from over 20 nationalities, bringing together more than 500 years of combined experience in solid oxide technology. The new facility will eventually support the creation of about 300 jobs as Elcogen transitions to mass production and increases global delivery capabilities. See www.elcogen.com.
