Utilitas is building an additional green hydrogen production unit in Tallinn

Estonia’s largest renewable energy producer, Utilitas, will build Estonia’s first green hydrogen production unit in Tallinn by the end of next year. In addition, the Environmental Investment Centre (EIC) decided to support the expansion of the first production unit, which will be ready in 2026 and double its capacity.

The complete green hydrogen value chain project managed by Utilitas is the first of its kind in the Baltic states. In addition to the production unit, Estonia’s first hydrogen gas stations will also be built, and Bolt-operated hydrogen cars will start driving in the capital. Utilitas’s green hydrogen production unit will be built in the Väo energy complex in the Utilitas Tallinn Power Plant, and green hydrogen will be produced in the electrolysis process.

In addition, EIC is supporting Utilitas and Alexela with four million euros to build an additional green hydrogen production unit in Tallinn and a hydrogen filling station in Jüri by the spring of 2026, and to acquire an additional 10 hydrogen cars.

“The production of green hydrogen complements our Väo energy complex well, because locally produced green electricity can be used as an input, and the heat released during hydrogen production is fed into the district heating network. Such cross-sector solutions make the energy system more efficient, flexible, and reliable, and ultimately help to reduce the costs of decarbonizing society,” explained Priit Koit, the CEO of Utilitas Group.

In the production of green hydrogen, the inputs are green electricity and demineralized water. The production process does not emit any carbon dioxide, just pure hydrogen and oxygen. The modern electrolyzer uses the best available technology, meets all safety and design requirements related to hydrogen, and is one of the most efficient on the market. The maximum annual production of the unit, which will be completed by the end of 2024, is 130 tons of green hydrogen.

The investment company UG Investments will buy 30 Toyota Mirai hydrogen cars from ELKE Auto as part of the first green hydrogen complete chain project. These will be operated by the ride-sharing service provider Bolt. Hydrogen cars use hydrogen and oxygen as fuel with no emission into the environment. Environmentally friendly hydrogen car releases only a small amount of completely pure water from the exhaust pipe.

Oscar Rõõm, Head of the Bolt ride-sharing service, said that Bolt wants to offer better alternatives to personal cars in cities. Cars that are both convenient to use and have a smaller environmental footprint. “We work daily to increase the number of electric vehicles on our platform, but at the same time, we are also open to new technologies. We are pleased to say that thanks to the cooperation with Utilitas and UG Investments, we will soon be able to offer our customers a ride-sharing service with hydrogen cars,” he said.

During the first stage of the project, green hydrogen fast-fill stations will be built and operated by Alexela. One will be located at the Utilitas Väo energy complex and the other on Peterburi tee highway. By the spring of 2026, another filling station will be built in Jüri through the expansion project. With the help of modern technology, it is possible to fill a hydrogen car in 3-5 minutes and a bus or truck in 10-15 minutes. 

At the end of 2021, the establishment of the complete green hydrogen value chain received co-financing from the EIC and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications in the total amount of five million euros. The investments will be completed in the last quarter of 2024. Stargate Hydrogen Solutions, a company offering green hydrogen solutions, is also participating in the creation as a technical consultant.