Fortum started hydrogen production in Loviisa
Fortum has begun the first phase of commissioning the electrolysis equipment at the Kalla pilot plant and has produced hydrogen for the first time. The pilot plant in Loviisa is expected to be fully operational in spring 2026.
“The hydrogen now produced in Kalla is the first step from vision to reality, and a significant milestone for Fortum and our goal of exploring the potential of hydrogen in reducing carbon dioxide emissions from Nordic industry. We are currently building the technical and commercial expertise needed to scale up renewable hydrogen and promote carbon neutrality in the Nordic countries," says Satu Sipola, Head of Fortum's P2X business.
Fortum is investigating the conditions for hydrogen production in stages. The pilot project in Kalla will test the technical capabilities and commercial viability of hydrogen production, which will serve as lessons learned for larger projects serving potential industrial customers.
Two electrolyser technologies are being tested
In Kalla, hydrogen is produced by electrolysis, in which water is broken down into hydrogen and oxygen using fossil-free electricity. Hydrogen acts as an energy carrier that enables energy storage and transfer without carbon dioxide emissions. This makes it a valuable solution in sectors where direct electrification is not possible. The pilot plant is testing two electrolyser technologies, which will be introduced in stages:
- A 1 MW alkaline electrolyser from Stargate Hydrogen
- A 0.75 MW PEM electrolyserserving as a lesson learned for larger projects that could serve from Hystar
The use of both systems in real-world conditions will provide valuable information about their efficiency, flexibility, safety, and scalability.
Hydrogen will be supplied to an industrial customer
The Kalla pilot plant will operate until 2028 as a learning and development project, through which we will gain experience in the project planning and implementation of hydrogen plants before committing to any larger-scale commercial projects. The lessons learned from Kalla will also influence the development of future customer solutions.
The hydrogen produced at Kalla will be delivered to P2X Solutions Oy in accordance with the sales agreement signed in June. Some of the hydrogen will also be used in research and development activities and at Fortum's Loviisa nuclear power plant.
