Fortum inaugurated the Kalla pilot plant in Loviisa
Fortum has officially opened the Kalla pilot plant in Loviisa. With the opening, the Kalla pilot plant will move on to long-term testing of hydrogen production and operational learning under real-world conditions. The lessons learned from the pilot plant will support Fortum’s future hydrogen projects and efforts to identify customer needs.
Fortum is exploring the role of the hydrogen economy in the energy transition in stages, and the Kalla pilot plant is one part of that effort. The project represents an investment of approximately 20 million euros, covering both the construction of the pilot plant and the operational phase. Earthwork for the approximately 2 MW hydrogen plant began in the fall of 2024, and actual construction started in the summer of 2025. The first hydrogen was produced during commissioning in December 2025. The Kalla pilot plant is expected to be fully operational in the summer of 2026 and is intended to serve as a learning and development project until 2028.
“The opening of the Kalla pilot plant marks a clear transition from the initial commissioning phase toward systematic testing and long-term learning. At Kalla, we will gain the practical experience needed to develop new hydrogen solutions. A phased approach to hydrogen production is key to ensuring both technical readiness and commercial viability,” says Satu Sipola, Head of Fortum’s P2X business.
“The transition away from fossil fuels is based on electrification, and hydrogen plays a key role in this transformation. Fortum is committed to accelerating electrification, and the Kalla pilot plant is an important step forward in this work,” says Peter Strannegård, Head of Fortum’s Renewables and Decarbonisation unit.
Customers, partners, local stakeholders, and colleagues who have been involved in the development of the Kalla pilot plant have been invited to the opening ceremony. Fortum would like to thank its partners, such as electrolyzer suppliers Hystar and Stargate Hydrogen, as well as the people of Loviisa, for their excellent cooperation and willingness to work toward reducing industrial emissions and supporting the development of hydrogen production in Finland.
The Kalla pilot plant is Fortum’s hydrogen production facility in Loviisa. The plant tests and compares hydrogen production technologies under real-world operating conditions. The aim of the operation is to develop technical expertise, operational experience, and commercial readiness for future hydrogen projects and the development of customer solutions.
Kalla is one of the first sites in the Nordic countries where two different electrolysis technologies are being tested in parallel at the same facility.
