Elcogen received funding from Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) for a €25.4-MM project to accelerate the deployment of solid oxide technology to enable affordable green H₂ production in Europe. The grant funding has been awarded from the Hy2 Tech initiative, part of the IPCEI, to accelerate the production of affordable green H₂.

IPCEI Hy2 Tech supports projects working to accelerate the transition towards the use of green H2 to meet zero targets in Europe. It includes companies from 15 EU Member States and contributes to a common objective by supporting a key strategic value chain for the future of Europe, as well as the objectives of the EU key policy initiatives such as the Green Deal, the EU H₂ Strategy and REPowerEU.

Elcogen’s role in IPCEI Hy2 Tech is to develop next generation clean energy technology that delivers affordable green H₂ for European projects. The company’s low-cost and innovative solid oxide electrolysis (SOE) technology, produced with lower cost materials and sustainable components, enables the production of affordable green H₂. Elcogen will integrate the Company’s core technology into IPCEI partners’ system prototypes and design of advanced pilot lines to enable their industrialization whilst reducing commercial costs and catalyze progress towards net zero.

Demand for green H₂ is forecast to rise significantly and the market opportunity for SOE technology is growing. Solid oxide electrolyzers have the highest conversion efficiency from power to H₂ compared to other technologies, and importantly is reversible, meaning it can generate fuel from power as well as power from fuel in one integrated system. This sets SOE technology apart from competing electrolyzer technologies, as its inherent reversibility provides economic benefits for customers as a result of increased plant utilization, supplying electricity when grid prices are high and valuable green H₂ when power is cheap.

Enn Õunpuu, CEO of Elcogen, said, “Elcogen is already commercializing one of the market’s best performing solid oxide technologies for green H₂ production, and we are very pleased to receive the IPCEI funding which recognizes our role in enabling affordable green H₂ production. The funding will be used to further develop even better performing products and ultimately catalyze our customers’ transition away from fossil fuels.”

Tiit Riisalo, Estonian Minister of Economic Affairs and IT, said, “Elcogen is a world leader in manufacturing clean energy technology, and by supporting projects like this, we show what Estonia values in innovation and in which direction we are moving—developing green technologies, increasing competitiveness and knowledge intensity. Such investments create more smart and high-paying jobs and contribute to the overall transition to green energy.”

The project duration is from July 2023 to June 2027, and Elcogen will execute the project in cooperation with other direct and indirect partners of IPCEI Hy2 Tech. The funding will be administered by KredEx and Enterprise Estonia and financed by the Estonian government.