Last updated : February 20, 2026 10:47 am
Elcogen works closely with partners throughout the project lifecycle, from early-stage design and system simulation through to commissioning and optimisation
Amid India’s accelerating transition towards a low-carbon economy, hydrogen has emerged at the centre of industrial and energy policy discussions. The National Green Hydrogen Mission, expanding renewable generation and the urgent need to decarbonise heavy industry are together shaping one of the most promising hydrogen markets in the world. For Indian stakeholders assessing global technology providers with proven industrial capability, Elcogen is a company that merits close attention.
Founded in 2001, Elcogen develops and supplies a proprietary solid oxide technology platform capable of operating in both fuel cell and electrolysis modes. This means the same underlying technology can be used either to generate clean electricity or to produce green hydrogen. The ability to switch between these functions offers a level of flexibility that is increasingly valuable as energy systems evolve. Reflecting both its technological maturity and global relevance, Elcogen was named one of TIME Magazine’s World’s Top Green Tech Companies of 2025.
Elcogen has its registered office in the UK, with headquarters in Tallinn, Estonia, and research and development centres in Estonia and Finland. From these bases, the company serves a growing global customer base. Its solid oxide cells, stacks and modules are integrated into third party systems across sectors where decarbonisation is essential, including Combined Heat and Power (CHP), steelmaking, e fuels, shipping, data centres and energy infrastructure.
Moving Beyond Combustion-based Systems
The starting point for Elcogen’s technology proposition is the recognition that combustion has reached its limits. Even with efficiency improvements, combustion-based processes continue to generate harmful emissions. Industries with high energy demand now require solutions that fundamentally change how energy is produced and used.
Solid oxide technology enables hydrogen production through electrochemical conversion rather than combustion. Operating in electrolysis mode, solid oxide electrolysers use both electricity and heat to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, delivering significantly higher efficiency than conventional technologies. Elcogen’s solid oxide components consume around 30 per cent less electricity than alkaline, PEM, and AEM electrolysers and produce hydrogen at approximately 33 to 40 kilowatt hours per kilogram, among the lowest energy consumption levels currently achievable at industrial scale. When renewable energy availability and cost are the key decisive factors in determining green hydrogen competitiveness, this efficiency advantage is particularly relevant, as lower electricity demand reduces the renewable power, land and capital required and accelerates progress towards cost competitive green hydrogen for sectors such as fertilisers, refining, steel and synthetic fuels.
Designed for Flexibility and Localisation
Elcogen deliberately positions itself as a component manufacturer, thus technology enabler, rather than a system owner. Its core products are cells, stacks and modules that form the heart of electrolysers and fuel cell systems developed by partners. This application-agnostic approach allows system integrators and industrial players to tailor solutions to specific market needs.
For India, this opens the door to localisation. Elcogen licenses its technology and manufacturing blueprint to support domestic production while maintaining intellectual property control and consistent performance. This model aligns well with India’s industrial policy priorities, including local manufacturing, supply chain resilience and the development of domestic hydrogen ecosystems.
Proven Performance across Real World Applications
Solid oxide technology has long been recognised for its potential, but Elcogen has demonstrated its viability in practical deployments. Its technology has been validated in combined heat and power systems, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and industrial hydrogen projects. The firm is currently involved in the Horizon Europe-funded SYRIUS project, aimed at nothing less than demonstrating the world’s largest 4.2+ MW Solid Oxide Electrolyser in a steel plant in Terni, Italy. Capable of producing 100 kg/h of green hydrogen, the integration is expected to cut CO₂ emissions by 5,600 tonnes per year.
A key advantage with Elcogen lies in reversibility. The same solid oxide platform supports both power-to-gas and gas-to-power operation. This enables systems that can produce hydrogen when renewable electricity is abundant and generate electricity when energy demand is high. In the context of India’s evolving power system, with rising renewable penetration and growing demand for decentralised energy solutions, this flexibility is a significant asset. Elcogen’s solid oxide fuel cell technology achieves electrical efficiencies of up to 75 per cent, rising to around 90 per cent when heat is recovered and used in cogeneration. High efficiency improves project economics while making better use of energy resources, which is critical in energy intensive industrial environments.
Manufacturing at Industrial Scale
As hydrogen moves from demonstration projects to large scale deployment, manufacturing capacity has become a key differentiator. In 2025, Elcogen completed and opened ELCO I, a 14,000 square metre, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Tallinn, Estonia. This marked a decisive shift from limited production to true industrial scale manufacturing.
The production line is already operational and capable of producing up to 360MW. Factory construction was supported by strategic industrial investors including Baker Hughes and HD Hyundai, and funding from the EU Innovation Fund. Advanced automation, including roll-to-roll printing and continuous processing, is reducing production times from weeks to days while improving yield and consistency. For customers and partners, this scale and reliability of supply are critical as hydrogen projects grow in size and complexity.
Relevance for India’s Hard to Abate Sectors
India’s hardest to abate sectors share two defining characteristics. They are energy intensive and they generate significant amounts of heat. These conditions are particularly well suited to solid oxide electrolysers, which can integrate heat into hydrogen production to reduce overall energy costs.
At the same time, the rapid expansion of data centres, telecom infrastructure and remote industrial operations is driving demand for clean, reliable and efficient power generation beyond the grid. Solid oxide fuel cells running on hydrogen or low carbon fuels offer a pathway to zero emission baseload and backup power without the noise and pollution associated with diesel generators.
The combination of industrial hydrogen demand and distributed power generation creates strong momentum for solid oxide technology, linking hydrogen production directly with high efficiency electricity generation.
Elcogen is actively exploring partnerships with numerous incumbent EPCs to broaden the reach of its SOEC tech. They recently inked an MoU with Casale, the global provider of technologies and integrated engineering solutions to produce base chemicals. This will enable the parties to collaborate on green ammonia and other Power-to-X projects. Ammonia production, which today relies primarily on hydrogen derived from natural gas, has traditionally been dependent on fossil fuels, making it a significant source of CO2 emissions. However, by coupling green hydrogen technology into ammonia production and leveraging renewable energy sources, the new process can significantly reduce emissions, offering a cleaner and more sustainable solution for the industry.
A Collaborative Approach to the Energy Transition
Elcogen’s role in the hydrogen economy extends beyond supplying components. The company works closely with partners throughout the project lifecycle, from early-stage design and system simulation through to commissioning and optimisation. This reflects a recognition that successful hydrogen projects depend not only on technology, but on economic viability, system integration, operational performance and long-term reliability.
Economic value is paramount to the large-scale uptake of green hydrogen, and this is where solid oxide technology is becoming increasingly compelling. Solid oxide systems are on track to reach cost parity with alkaline and PEM technologies, and once achieved, are expected to deliver even greater value through a lower levelised cost of hydrogen, superior electrical efficiency and greater scalability. Crucially, solid oxide technology avoids reliance on precious materials such as iridium and platinum, positioning it as a more resilient and future-proof solution as supply chains tighten and demand accelerates.
Elcogen was founded in post-independence Estonia at a time when energy security and cost predictability were essential for economic survival, shaping the company’s focus on efficiency, reliability and long-term performance.
Commenting on the relevance of this experience for India, Elcogen CEO Enn Õunpuu shares: “Elcogen was created in a market where energy security and cost predictability were critical from day one. That heritage matters for green hydrogen off-takers today. We inherently understand that industrial customers need green hydrogen and bankable technology that can deliver reliable volumes over decades. We deliver this through our patented high-efficiency SOEC technology, manufacturing at scale, and deep integration expertise that supports long-term, dependable hydrogen supply.”
With more than two decades of experience in solid oxide development and a clear pathway to large-scale manufacturing, Elcogen enters the Indian market conversation at a moment of accelerating ambition. For policymakers, industrial leaders and project developers, it represents a mature and flexible technology platform capable of supporting both cost-competitive hydrogen production and clean power generation at scale.