Elcogen supplies cells, stacks, and modules that are integrated into third-party fuel cell and electrolyser systems for applications including distributed energy, stationary power, backup, 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.”
The facility integrates advanced automation, R&D capacity, and sustainability measures such as process heat reuse and thermal oxidisers. It is powered by a 9 MW supply from the nearby Iru Waste-to-Energy Plant.
The project represents an investment of approximately €50 million and was delivered by construction partner Maru Ehitus AS. Funding was provided by Elcogen stakeholders, including Baker Hughes and HD Hyundai, and the European Innovation Fund has committed a further €25 million to expand capacity.
“As the name implies, ELCO I serves as a flagship model designed to guide future development initiatives globally,” added Õunpuu. “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 now employs nearly 150 people from over 20 nationalities. The company expects the new facility to support around 300 additional jobs as it transitions to mass production.
“Yes, we are expanding capacity, but this is also about increasing the performance of our products and reducing costs for our partners across the energy value chain,” said Õunpuu. “This is a facility designed to deliver on the promise of clean energy, now.”
