Fortum, the state-owned power company from Finland, has successfully produced the first hydrogen at Kalla Test Center located in Loviisa, Finland, during the initial commissioning phase of the electrolyzer equipment. The test center is anticipated to be completely functional in spring 2026. With the tremendous outcomes that Fortum has achieved in the power sector, it looks committed to speeding up the electrification throughout the Nordics, and the first hydrogen at Kalla Test Center indeed seems like it is contributing to that goal.
Satu Sipola, Fortum’s VP of P2X and Project Execution, says that this first hydrogen from Kalla is just a tangible step from vision to reality and also a prominent milestone for Fortum as well as its ambition to go ahead and explore the potential of hydrogen when it comes to decarbonizing the Nordic industries. Sipola adds that they are gaining the technical and commercial experience and expertise that’s required to go ahead and scale renewable hydrogen and also drive Nordic decarbonization. Notably, the approach by Fortum focuses majorly on building technical readiness and also commercial viability, and that too one step at a time, and Kalla is indeed that technical pilot that allows them to proceed with possible larger projects that support the industrial customers’ needs.
It is well to be noted that the hydrogen at Kalla is produced by way of electrolysis, which splits water into hydrogen as well as oxygen using fossil-free electricity. Hydrogen goes on to act as an energy carrier, which can store and also transport energy without producing CO₂ when being used, hence making it valuable where direct electrification is not possible. Apparently, there are two electrolyzer technologies that are integrated into one plant and are being commissioned in phases—a 1 MW alkaline electrolyzer from Stargate Hydrogen as well as a 0.75 MW PEM electrolyzer from Hystar. Interestingly, operating both systems under real-time conditions goes on to offer certain valuable insights when it comes to efficiency, agility, safety, and scalability.
The Kalla Test Center is going to function as a learning and development platform till 2028. The findings are going to help shape possible commercial-scale hydrogen projects for Fortum and its future customer solutions. Hydrogen from Kalla is going to be delivered to P2X Solutions Oy by way of an existing agreement. Part of the hydrogen is also going to be used in terms of research and development, as well as at the Loviisa nuclear power plant in Fortum.