Elcogen, a European manufacturer of technology that enables the efficient production of affordable green hydrogen and emission-free electricity, has officially opened ELCO I, its new manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Tallinn, Estonia. The launch marks a pivotal step in scaling up Elcogen’s role in the global energy transition.
The 14 000 m² facility significantly increases Elcogen’s available production capacity from 10 MW to 360 MW, positioning the company as one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of high-efficiency solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and electrolysis (SOEC) technology. Elcogen’s components – cells, stacks, and modules – 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 of Elcogen. “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.”
As efforts to cut industrial emissions, develop green hydrogen, and improve energy resilience gather pace, this new facility is seen as a boost to clean technology production at a time when energy security, supply chain stability, and net-zero commitments are increasingly shaping government policy and private investment.
Built for Global Scale
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 Waste-to-Energy Plant and incorporates sustainability measures such as process heat reuse and thermal oxidisers to reduce emissions.
With approximately €50 million in capital investment, the facility was delivered on time and on budget by construction partner Maru Ehitus AS. Funding for the project was provided by Elcogen stakeholders, including Baker Hughes and South Korea’s HD Hyundai. The project also received support from the EU Innovation Fund (IF), which has committed an additional €25 million to expand capacity under Elcogen’s ‘ELCO I’ initiative.
“As the name implies, ELCO I serves as a flagship model designed to guide future development initiatives globally,” commented Õunpuu. “It reflects our broader vision for international expansion and leadership in clean energy solutions. 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.”