Fortum launches Kalla hydrogen testing facility to support Nordic decarbonisation goals

Fortum launches Kalla hydrogen testing facility to support Nordic decarbonisation goals

(IN BRIEF) Fortum has inaugurated the Kalla Test Center in Loviisa as part of its long-term hydrogen development strategy. The €20 million pilot-scale facility will test and compare hydrogen production technologies under real operating conditions and is expected to become fully operational in summer 2026. The site is among the first in the Nordics to operate two electrolyser technologies side by side and will support Fortum’s efforts to build technical expertise, operational experience and commercially viable hydrogen solutions aimed at accelerating industrial decarbonisation and electrification.

(PRESS RELEASE) ESPOO, 18-May-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Fortum has officially inaugurated the Kalla Test Center in Loviisa, advancing the company’s hydrogen development strategy and expanding its efforts to support industrial decarbonisation and electrification across the Nordic region.

The new facility marks the beginning of a long-term testing and operational learning phase focused on hydrogen production technologies under real operating conditions. According to Fortum, the insights generated at the Kalla Test Center will support future hydrogen projects and help the company develop customer-oriented hydrogen solutions as part of its wider decarbonisation strategy.

The project represents an investment of approximately €20 million, covering both the construction and operational phases of the pilot-scale facility. Preparatory work for the roughly 2 MW hydrogen production plant began in autumn 2024, with full construction starting during summer 2025. The site produced its first hydrogen during the commissioning phase in December 2025 and is expected to become fully operational during summer 2026.

Satu Sipola, Vice President of P2X & Project Execution at Fortum, said the inauguration represents a shift from early commissioning activities toward structured testing and long-term operational learning. She noted that the company’s step-by-step approach is intended to ensure both technical readiness and commercial viability for future hydrogen developments.

Peter Strannegård, Executive Vice President for Renewables and Decarbonisation at Fortum, described hydrogen as an important enabler of the broader transition away from fossil fuels and said the company is committed to accelerating electrification and clean energy development across the region.

The inauguration event brought together customers, industrial partners, local stakeholders and Fortum employees involved in the project’s development. The company acknowledged the contribution of electrolyser technology providers Hystar and Stargate Hydrogen, as well as the local community in Loviisa.

According to Fortum, the Kalla Test Center is one of the first hydrogen testing sites in the Nordic region to operate two different electrolyser technologies side by side within the same facility. The company said the pilot-scale center will serve as a platform for technical evaluation, operational experience and commercial readiness through at least 2028.

The facility forms part of Fortum’s broader strategy of delivering reliable low-carbon energy while supporting the decarbonisation of industrial sectors and societies in Northern Europe.

About Kalla Test Center
The Kalla Test Center is Fortum’s pilot‑scale hydrogen production facility located in Loviisa, Finland. The facility is used to test and compare hydrogen production technologies under real operating conditions, with the aim of building technical knowledge, operational experience and commercial readiness to support future hydrogen projects and customer solutions.

Kalla is among the first sites in the Nordics to operate and test two different electrolyser technologies side by side within the same facility.

Media Contacts: 

Fortum News Desk
newsdesk@fortum.com
+358 40 198 2843

Satu Sipola
VP
P2X & Project Execution
Satu.Sipola@fortum.com

SOURCE: Fortum