Solar Foods is back in the news this week, as the Finnish food-tech company reveals an ambitious investment plan that could establish the largest emission reduction project in Europe. The initiative includes the development of Factory 02, with potential expansion to two additional facilities, Factories 03 and 04, on the same site.

Solar Foods specialises in producing Solein, a protein-rich food ingredient synthesised from carbon dioxide and electricity. The company’s first demonstration facility, Factory 01, has successfully validated its production capabilities at scale, making way for future expansions.

Recently, Solar Foods signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two international customers, aiming to commercialise a total of 6,000 tonnes of Solein annually. This volume represents approximately 50% of the expected output from Factory 02, which has an annual capacity of 12,800 tonnes.

The company is currently evaluating sites for the new facilities, with a potential location identified in Lappeenranta, Eastern Finland, which meets the project’s logistical and operational requirements.

The investment decision is anticipated in 2026, and if realised, the three factories could collectively produce 50,000 tonnes of Solein per year. This production would utilise an estimated 120,000 tonnes of CO2 and 270MW of electricity annually, underscoring Solar Foods' commitment to sustainable practices.

According to a lifecycle analysis conducted by the company, the environmental footprint of Solein is approximately 1% of that associated with traditional beef production. If Solein were to replace beef in the food system, the three factories could facilitate a greenhouse gas emission reduction of around 10 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year. This figure represents nearly 25% of Finland's total annual emissions in 2023 and is comparable to the country’s annual road transport emissions.

The establishment of Factories 02-04 is set to reinforce Finland's position as a leader in cellular agriculture. Solein production is particularly advantageous as it is not reliant on traditional agricultural inputs, such as land and favorable weather conditions. This independence enhances strategic food security and price stability, while also allowing for a high domestic production ratio of over 80%.

Economically, the projected annual value of production from the three facilities is estimated at EUR 800 million, assuming Solein's market price aligns with that of whey protein isolate. This revenue could account for 50% of Finland's food, beverage and tobacco sector exports in 2025, thereby creating a significant new sector within the Finnish economy.

Pasi Vainikka, CEO of Solar Foods, noted the transformative potential of this investment plan, stating: “This is to date Europe’s single largest emission reduction project. The economic value and contribution to Finnish exports of this plan are significant, considering the factories would create a whole new sector in the Finnish economy, as well as a high-tech industry.”