As a global supplier of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and solid oxide electrolyser cell (SOEC) technology, Elcogen is enabling cost-effective green hydrogen production and low-emission electricity generation across a range of applications. The firm’s components are integrated into systems that enable a wide range of applications, from off-grid power solutions to industrial-scale hydrogen production.

Founded in 2001, Elcogen has grown into a trusted partner for companies seeking cutting-edge fuel cell and electrolyser technology. With headquarters in Tallinn, Estonia, and R&D hubs in both Estonia and Finland, Elcogen supplies cells, stacks, and modules to third-party system integrators, ensuring top-tier performance while providing full engineering support. By prioritising affordability, efficiency, and adaptability, the company is shaping the future of clean energy. Recent investments from prominent players such as Baker Hughes and HD Hyundai, along with a grant awarded by the EU Innovation Fund, serve as a strong endorsement of Elcogen’s technology and the confidence global leaders have in its solutions and potential to transform the energy landscape.

“At Elcogen, we believe that access to affordable, sustainable energy should be a fundamental right, and we’re committed to making that a reality for everyone, everywhere. This means bringing the right technology to the table but also working hand-in-hand with the right partners and our customers to ensure our solutions are integrated and optimised for mass adoption,” says Enn Ounpuu, Elcogen’s CEO.

Enn shares that SOFC technology is already making a real impact, especially in combined heat and power (CHP) systems and stationary power units, where demand is growing – particularly in the APAC and Europe regions. It is also expanding into key areas like biogas, datacentres, EV charging, and marine applications.

While the market for SOEC electrolysers is still in its early stages, it’s expected to grow rapidly after 2030, according to the CEO. In the short term, he says, green hydrogen will be crucial for industries like chemicals (especially ammonia and methanol production), refineries (for their own use), and eventually for steel production, e-fuels in aviation and maritime applications as the cost of SOECs continues to fall.

 

 

 

“SOECs are particularly well-suited for industries such as steel and ammonia, where integrating heat can significantly improve efficiency. Late last year, our long-time partner, Genvia, secured a major pilot project with a global steel producer to install their SOEL200 electrolyser system at a steel plant in France. This system produces green hydrogen for low-carbon steel production, helping to reduce CO2 emissions and move green hydrogen forward in major production processes. This is really exciting,” he shares.

The firm is also involved in the SYRIUS project, backed by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and co-funded by the European Union, which has set out to integrate the world’s largest Solid Oxide Electrolyser into a real steel plant in Italy, pioneering hydrogen-powered, circular energy systems for more sustainable steel production.

 

Distinct Advantages of Elcogen’s Technology

Not all solid oxide technology is created equal. Elcogen’s electrode-supported planar solid oxide cells (SOC) operate between 600-800°C, activating at just 580°C—a lower threshold than most competitors, which typically require over 700°C. This lower operating temperature translates to greater durability, reduced material costs, and higher overall efficiency.

The company’s patented elcoCell® technology supports multiple operational modes, including:

• SOFC (Fuel Cell Mode): Converts hydrogen or other fuels into electricity with high efficiency.
• SOEC (Electrolysis Mode): Produces green hydrogen with lower energy consumption.
• Co-SOEC (Co-Electrolysis Mode): Generates syngas directly from water and CO₂, paving the way for synthetic fuel production.
• Reversible Mode (rSOC): Enables seamless switching between electricity generation and hydrogen production.

 

Elcogen offers two main product families—300C and 400B—with flexible designs that can be tailored to meet specific customer needs, ensuring broad applicability across sectors.

 

 

Efficiency at the Core: The elcoStack® Advantage

For industries looking to integrate green hydrogen into their operations, efficiency is paramount. Elcogen’s elcoStack® technology is designed to maximise hydrogen production efficiency while minimising operating costs.

Key technical specifications of elcoStack®:

• Power Output: 350W to 3kW in fuel cell mode.
• Hydrogen Production Rate: 350 NL/h to 3 Nm³/h in electrolysis mode.
• Operating Temperature: 620-720°C, optimised for durability and efficiency.
• Fuel Flexibility: Compatible with hydrogen, natural gas, biogas, methanol, LNG, and ammonia, ensuring future-proof investments.

 

“SOEC technology is the most energy-efficient way to produce hydrogen. It offers unparalleled advantages compared to water electrolysis. It requires less electricity to produce hydrogen due to faster and more efficient kinetics, and it can use steam generated from the waste heat of industrial processes – further reducing the electricity needed for hydrogen production. Unlike water electrolysis, it produces little to no waste heat itself. The elcoStack® technology platform operates at a lower temperature compared to many other solid oxide solutions while retaining high efficiency and power densities, providing a simpler and more cost-efficient solution for integrating solid oxide technology into an electrolyser system,” Ounpuu shares.

To simplify system integration, Elcogen also provides stack modules, which include compression systems, gas manifolds, and air distribution structures. These pre-assembled components allow for faster deployment and optimised performance.

 

 

Driving the Hydrogen Economy Forward

The European Climate Law and Green Deal set ambitious targets for a net-zero economy by 2050, with green hydrogen playing a key role in industrial decarbonisation. However, the high cost of electrolyser technology remains a significant challenge to scaling production.

“Hydrogen, especially green hydrogen made through electrolysis using renewable electricity, will play a crucial role in creating a sustainable and more independent energy system for the future. It can store energy, help integrate variable renewable sources, enable long-distance energy transport, and can be used as fuel or feedstock in hard-to-decarbonise industries,” Ounpuu explains. “Right now, hydrogen makes up a single-digital percentage of Europe’s energy use, with most of it produced from natural gas. To reduce carbon emissions and meet growing demand, we need to boost hydrogen production from renewable sources. However, the high cost of making electrolysers presents a challenge to scaling up green hydrogen production. To meet targets like the EU’s 40 GW by 2030, improving electrolyser technology is essential. Due to their high efficiency, SOEC offers a proven solution, especially for energy-intensive industries like steel and cement.”

Enn Ounpuu emphasizes the importance of partnerships for this progress, and Elcogen’s collaboration with fuel cell system provider Convion exemplifies this. Elcogen and Convion have worked together on developing solid oxide fuel cell technologies and achieving major milestones, including a successful field test of an industrial-scale solid oxide electrolyser system in early 2024. This system achieved over 85% efficiency and produced green hydrogen with 20-30% less electricity compared to other technologies.

Last year, Convion was acquired by HD Hyundai, a move that highlights the growing importance of fuel cell technologies in decarbonising industries. “Convion’s expertise in fuel cell systems, combined with HD Hyundai’s muscle and vision, strengthens their role in advancing sustainable energy solutions,” says Ounpuu. HD Hyundai’s €45 million investment in Elcogen in October 2023 further strengthens the partnership, providing resources to scale SOFC and SOEC systems globally.

 

 

 

Scaling Up: Manufacturing for the Future

To meet rising global demand, Elcogen is expanding its production capabilities with a new 14,000m² manufacturing facility in Loovälja Industrial Park, Estonia. This facility, expected to be operational by mid-2025, will increase the company’s production capacity from 10MW to 360MW.

The new plant will feature advanced automation, streamlining manufacturing processes to enhance efficiency and maintain rigorous quality control standards. By leveraging cutting-edge production techniques, Elcogen aims to increase output and optimise resource utilisation. Additionally, the facility is designed with sustainability in mind, integrating renewable energy sources to minimise its environmental footprint. This ensures that the energy used in production aligns with the company’s commitment to a cleaner future. Furthermore, the optimised production lines will support large-scale, cost-effective manufacturing of both SOFC and SOEC systems, enabling Elcogen to meet growing market demand while maintaining affordability and high performance.

Ounpuu adds: “Alongside the new factory, we’re forming strategic partnerships with component suppliers and customers, optimising our designs for automated manufacturing and working to further reduce dependence on critical raw materials in stacks and cells to mitigate price and availability issues. We can see that solid oxide technology has greater scaling potential than technologies like PEM and Alkaline due to its lack of reliance on precious materials like iridium and platinum. When the readiness level and cost of solid oxide technology reaches parity with PEM and Alkaline, we expect it will quickly exceed it.”

 

The Future of Hydrogen: Elcogen’s Role in a Net-Zero World

As the demand for hydrogen grows, technologies that enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and integrate with existing energy systems will be critical. Elcogen is uniquely positioned to provide solutions that support this shift, offering high-performance fuel cell and electrolyser components that help industries reduce emissions while maintaining operational efficiency.

Elcogen’s focus on solid oxide technology, system integration, and cost reduction makes it a key player in the evolving hydrogen landscape. “Hydrogen will be central to the energy transition, and solid oxide technology will be at the heart of it. Our role is to provide the most efficient and adaptable solutions to accelerate this shift,” Ounpuu shares.

It is focused on steady development over the next couple of years through a mix of organic growth and strategic expansion. The first phase of the new factory is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. The company plans to move towards licensing its product and manufacturing blueprint to strategic partners, reducing the need for significant future capital expenditures. This CAPEX-light approach emphasizes scalability and profitability, offering an attractive proposition for investors. The licensing model provides flexibility and autonomy for partners while promoting the development of a sustainable domestic industry (licensing the core technology and manufacturing the blueprint while utilizing local resources).

To continue advancing this growth, they are actively raising capital this year. “To support a future powered by green hydrogen, we’re continuously improving our SOFC and SOEC technology and finding ways to manufacture products at the lowest possible cost by leveraging the economies of scale from high-volume production. We are planning to raise capital to help fund our ongoing initiatives,” Ounpuu concludes. •

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