Fortum has officially inaugurated its Kalla Test Center in Loviisa, Finland, marking a significant step forward in the development of hydrogen production technologies in the Nordic region.
The pilot-scale facility features a 1 MW alkaline electrolyser supplied by Stargate Hydrogen and is designed to test hydrogen production systems under real operating conditions. The site will support operational learning, technology validation and future project development through to 2028.
The Kalla Test Center is among the first hydrogen facilities in the Nordics to operate and evaluate multiple electrolyser technologies side by side. Stargate Hydrogen’s system is one of two electrolysers installed at the site.
The overall investment in the project amounts to approximately €20 million across both construction and operational phases. Preparatory works for the roughly 2 MW hydrogen production facility began in autumn 2024, with construction commencing in summer 2025. Initial hydrogen production was achieved during commissioning in December 2025, while full commercial operation is expected during summer 2026.
For Stargate Hydrogen, the project represents an important commercial and technological milestone, demonstrating the readiness of its electrolyser technology for industrial-scale applications and strategic energy projects across Europe.
Marko Virkebau, CEO of Stargate Hydrogen, said: “The inauguration of the Kalla Test Center demonstrates that Stargate Hydrogen has reached the level of maturity required to earn the trust of large industrial partners. Delivering this project together with Fortum confirms that both our technology and our team are ready to support the growing hydrogen economy across the Nordics and beyond.”
According to Fortum, the Kalla Test Center represents the company’s first practical step towards building operational expertise in hydrogen production and industrial decarbonisation.
Satu Sipola, Vice President, P2X & Project Execution at Fortum, said: “At Kalla, we are developing the practical experience needed to advance hydrogen solutions. This step-by-step approach is essential to ensure both technical readiness and commercial viability, and Stargate Hydrogen demonstrated a high level of reliability and professionalism throughout the project.”
