Elcogen opens major fuel cell manufacturing facility in Estonia
Day by day, CleanTech industry is Estonia grows in strength and scale. This month, Estonian fuel cell manufacturer Elcogen has launched ELCO I, a state-of-the-art 14,000 square meter manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Tallinn. This factory will have a continent-wide effect, expanding Europe’s clean energy production capabilities.
The new facility will increase Elcogen’s production capacity from 10 MW to 360 MW and make the company one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) and Electrolysis (SOEC) technology.
Enn Õunpuu, CEO of Elcogen, said:
This new facility is built for scale, speed, and global impact,
“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 was constructed with a €50M capital investment from key stakeholders, including Baker Hughes, the global energy technology company, and South Korea’s HD Hyundai, one of the world’s largest industrial conglomerates. The European Innovation Fund has committed an additional €25M to further expand capacity under the ELCO I initiative.
Elcogen’s components serve a wide range of applications, including distributed energy systems, off-grid and stationary power, industrial backup solutions, green hydrogen production, and Power-to-X technologies. The company supplies fuel cell and electrolyser components that power some of the world’s most advanced clean energy systems through partnerships with global system integrators.
The facility integrates advanced automation with research and development capabilities while incorporating sustainable design features. It is powered by a 9 MW energy supply from the nearby Iru Power Plant and includes process heat reuse systems and thermal oxidisers to minimise emissions.
Founded in 2001, Elcogen has grown into a strategic technology partner for the global clean energy sector. The company’s workforce of nearly 150 employees represents over 20 nationalities and brings together more than 500 years of combined experience in Solid Oxide technology.
The new facility is expected to create approximately 300 local jobs as Elcogen transitions to mass production and expands its global delivery capabilities. Looking ahead, the company plans to license its technology and manufacturing blueprints to trusted international partners, enabling local production while maintaining intellectual property control.
Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe, said:
Estonia has once again proven its extraordinary creativity and productivity in clean-tech innovation,
“With Elcogen’s new facility, Europe gains a powerful boost in electrolysis and fuel cell capacity – technologies that are inseparable from the hydrogen economy.”.
READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen Central
Elcogen opens major fuel cell manufacturing facility in Estonia, source