Retrospective 2024: Stargate Hydrogen’s Year of Progress 

As 2024 comes to an end, we at Stargate Hydrogen are proud to reflect on a year filled with hard work, reaching milestones, and making progress toward a more sustainable future. 

From securing funding and advancing electrolyser technology to building partnerships and delivering solutions globally, every step we took brought us closer to our goal: Enabling the industry of tomorrow.  

Here’s a full view of Stargate Hydrogen's accomplishments this year: 

Key Milestones 

Successful Fundraising: We raised an impressive €42 million to scale up the production of our advanced ceramic-based electrolysers. This funding will allow us to increase capacity, improve our technological capabilities, and accelerate the delivery of high-performance hydrogen solutions to our clients. Additionally, we welcomed Taavi Madiberk, founder of Skeleton Technologies, as our non-executive Chairman.   

Megafactory Expansion: This year, we made a big move to a new facility eight times larger than our previous space. The new site has a 2300m² production area, 540m² of office space, and 350m² laboratory. More details on the fully operational Megafactory will be shared in early 2025. 

Baltics’ First Green Hydrogen System: We deployed a turn-key green hydrogen system at the Utilitas Power Plant in Tallinn, Estonia. This system will supply hydrogen to a refuelling station powering a fleet of vehicles. The project stands out as proof of concept for delivering complex solutions within tight urban spaces and demanding timelines. 

Stargate Hydrogen - Deployment of turn-key green hydrogen production system:

Team Growth: Stargate Hydrogen grew from 44 to 66 team members. This included the recruitment of 13 talented engineers and scientists across various disciplines. We also welcomed 8 interns, who brought fresh perspectives and energy to departments. The strength of our team is one of our greatest assets. 

Advancements in Technology 

Scaling Up Stardust Electrodes: Stardust electrodes represent an in-house innovation aimed at improving efficiency and durability while reducing costs. It proves Stargate’s ability to innovate and adapt cutting-edge technology for practical use. 

Enhanced Testing Capabilities: The long-term study of materials requires specialised testing equipment to simulate months or years of continuous operation. It demonstrates Stargate's commitment to delivering products that are built to last. 

New Clients and Markets 

This year marked significant growth in our client base and market reach. Key highlights include: 

• Fortum chose Stargate Hydrogen’s technology for their pilot plant at Kalla’s test centre in Finland.   
• Biga Hydrogen adopted our alkaline stack technology for their green hydrogen product line and placed an initial purchase order, setting the foundation for a long-term partnership. 
• VTT ordered a Stack for their R&D facility, further solidifying our reputation as a reliable provider of high-performance electrolysers. 
• Masmec selected our Stack for a pilot project in Italy, strengthening our presence in Southern Europe. 
• BGR Tech chose Stargate’s stacks as the heart of their hydrogen production systems.  This marks Stargate’s entrance into the promising Indian market and reinforces our commitment to making hydrogen technology accessible worldwide. 

Recognition and Partnerships 

2024 was a year of recognition for our efforts and achievements. We were: 

• Featured in the photo book Heroes of Hydrogen 2024, celebrating companies driving the hydrogen economy. 
• Listed in the prestigious #SET100 Start-Up Energy Transitions List 2024, highlighting innovative companies transforming energy systems. 
• Named one of the top companies in the hydrogen sector at the EU H2Valleys Investment Forum. 
• Awarded the Energy Globe Award Estonia and advanced to the global competition, a testament to our sustainability-driven innovations. 

We also built valuable partnerships. We: 

• Signed a technology partnership with McPhy to accelerate cooperation in hydrogen solutions. 
• Joined ABB’s Energy Efficiency Movement, a global initiative to promote energy-efficient technologies. 
• Signed an MoU with the Hydrogen Valley Estonia and Chungnam Innovation Cluster in South Korea, fostering cross-border collaboration in hydrogen development. 

Engaging Events and Discussions 

This year, we showcased our expertise and vision at leading industry events: 

Exhibitions: Stargate Hydrogen participated in events that provided a platform to connect with stakeholders, present our innovations, and explore new business opportunities. 

• World Hydrogen Summit (Rotterdam)
• Hydrogen Technology Expo (Hamburg)
• European Hydrogen Week (Brussels)
• H2POLAND.

Conferences: Our CTO, Rainer Küngas, was a speaker at several conferences such as:

• Electrochemistry Enabling the Green Transition Conference
• The 7th Industry Workshop on Advanced Alkaline Electrolysis
• The Hydrogen Research Forum in Finland
• The General Assembly of the Important Projects of Common European Interest in Paris. 

Ecosummit Berlin 2024, our CEO, Marko Virkebau, delivered a presentation about his vision for the company.

We also hosted and engaged with high-level delegations, such as: 

• Welcoming a German delegation led by MP Till Mansmann to discuss green hydrogen’s role in supplying Germany’s energy needs. 
• Holding discussions with Ukrainian representatives on the role of hydrogen in rebuilding the country’s energy infrastructure.  

EU-Funded Projects 

Stargate Hydrogen actively participated in EU-funded projects aimed at advancing hydrogen technology: 

• EXSOTHyC: Focused on reducing hydrogen costs by innovating new materials and production methods. 
• ENDURE: Aimed at enhancing the current density and stability of alkaline electrolysers. 
• ELECTROLIFE: Exploring degradation mechanisms to extend the lifespan of electrolysers, paving the way for industrial-scale applications. 

We collaborated with esteemed institutions and companies, including Fraunhofer IFAM, Eindhoven University, Agfa, and Enel Green Power, and many others. These partnerships highlight our commitment to leveraging collective expertise to advance green hydrogen technologies. 

Looking Ahead 

As we close 2024, we’re grateful for the trust of our clients, the dedication of our team, and the partnerships that make our mission possible. The coming year promises even greater opportunities to drive green hydrogen adoption. 

Stay connected: Follow us to learn more about our upcoming announcements and initiatives.  

Let’s continue building a sustainable future together.