Friday, June 9th marked a long-awaited milestone for Estonia. Stargate Hydrogen inaugurated a hydrogen technology factory on Laki Street in Tallinn – a significant step forward for Estonia’s deep tech sector. The new production facility will mass-produce the company’s patented alkaline electrolysis technology, making green hydrogen significantly more affordable than it is today.
At the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Kristen Michal emphasized that Stargate Hydrogen’s factory exemplifies the kind of industrial development Estonia strives for: “A small country’s competitive advantage lies in high value-added products, innovation, and a business-friendly environment. Our job in government is to make doing business as smooth as possible – we’ve taken concrete steps to simplify regulations, speed up procedures, and make Estonia more attractive for investment.”
Metrosert welcomes the launch of Stargate Hydrogen’s new plant as a key step in building a viable hydrogen technology value chain in Estonia. The presence of such industrial capability gives reason for optimism about the future. Priit Ilomets, Head of Hydrogen Technologies at Metrosert, who attended the opening, stated: “Companies like Stargate Hydrogen are exactly why we have a hydrogen technology division at Metrosert. When groundbreaking technologies are born in Estonia, our role is to ensure they are internationally trusted and meet the highest standards of quality and safety.”
Ilomets added that the plant’s opening demonstrates Estonia’s technological capacity to compete on the global stage: “Estonia’s role is to support this through trust, quality, and compliance with international standards.”
The new factory allows Stargate to scale its production capacity up to 140 megawatts per year. With future developments of the new building, this capacity could grow to as much as 1 gigawatt annually. Such capabilities will significantly advance Europe’s hydrogen economy and help reduce carbon emissions in high-CO₂ industries such as chemical production, steel, and fertilizers.
Stargate Hydrogen is part of the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) program by the European Commission, which connects leading hydrogen technology developers across Europe. At the opening, CEO Marko Virkebau emphasized their goal to grow from a startup into an international industrial company: “Our production capacity is already fully booked through the end of the year, and we’re seeing increasing interest from European, Middle Eastern, and Asian markets,” said Virkebau.
Congratulations to Stargate Hydrogen! Together, we move towards a greener and more competitive industry.
Learn more about Metrosert’s applied research center and hydrogen technology division HERE.
Photos: Enriko Pedaksalu