VIDEO: Hydrogen Europe Chief applauds Estonia’s clean energy momentum at Elcogen’s ELCO I launch
In a special address for the opening of Elcogen’s new manufacturing facility, Jorgo Chatzimarkakis called Estonia a rising leader in fuel cell and electrolyser technologies and urged stronger political backing across the EU.
At the recent launch of ELCO I, Elcogen’s new, high-volume solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) facility, attendees were treated to a special video message from Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe. Although unable to attend in person, Chatzimarkakis offered enthusiastic support for this milestone.
“We are proud to see our member, Elcogen, once again in the spotlight. This time for opening one of the largest facilities in Europe dedicated to solid oxide fuel cell technology”.
In his speech, Chatzimarkakis emphasised that Estonia, thanks to its historical innovation roots, is now among Europe’s front-runners in electrolysis and fuel cell tech per capita. This makes Estonia a crucial player in advancing renewable energy storage and conversion, a vital piece in achieving energy independence and sovereignty across the continent.
“We are pleased to witness this achievement, as it represents a significant contribution to the European Clean Tech Initiative, the European Green Deal, the Clean Industrial Deal, and – perhaps most importantly – European resilience”.
Chatzimarkakis also called for stronger political support at the EU level, urging Estonia and others to be louder advocates for their clean tech capabilities. He pointed out that turning ambition into tangible manufacturing capacity is essential for Europe’s green transition to succeed.
“We recently heard from [European] Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that Europe faces a serious challenge,” he said, adding, “We do not produce enough of our own energy. We lack domestic energy sources. Although we have good access to renewables, we struggle to convert them into stored energy and fuels. The technology you provide helps address this issue. It supports our economies and assists many industrial partners, both in Europe and globally, in harnessing renewable energy and converting it into molecules that can be easily stored and transported. And that is critically important”.
In closing, Chatzimarkakis congratulated Elcogen and Estonia for stepping up the pace in hydrogen innovation, positioning the country as a key force in Europe’s clean energy transition and resilience in an increasingly complex global landscape.
Text: Laura Quinton
