Finnish food‑tech pioneer Solar Foods has taken a significant step toward industrial‑scale production of its novel protein ingredient, Solein, by completing the advanced concept design phase for its next manufacturing facility, Factory 02. The company began preliminary engineering at the start of 2025 and has now finalised the integrated design framework that will guide the project into its final planning stage before an investment decision.
During this phase, Solar Foods collaborated with global engineering and project management firm Blue Projects, which helped translate the company’s proprietary gas‑fermentation technology into a fully integrated plant concept. The resulting design aligns with Solar Foods’ long‑term operational goals and provides the technical basis for scaling production far beyond the capacity of its existing Factory 01.
Factory 02 represents a major leap in output. While Factory 01 produces around 160 tonnes of Solein annually, the new facility is planned to reach 6,400 tonnes per year once fully built. Construction is expected to proceed in two stages: an initial 3.2‑kilotonne capacity targeted for completion by the end of 2028, followed by expansion to full scale the following year.
To support this growth, Solar Foods is assembling a network of strategic partners. The company has signed an exclusivity agreement with GEA, one of the world’s largest suppliers of food and pharmaceutical process systems, covering equipment delivery and plant‑level engineering. Additional partners will be selected for hydrogen production, energy systems, and thermal management. Solar Foods is also evaluating real‑estate investment options with advisory support from Vicus Capital Advisors.
As global demand for sustainable proteins accelerates, Factory 02 positions Solar Foods at the forefront of scalable, low‑impact food production based on gas‑fermentation biotechnology.
Solar Foods’ Factory 02 will be located in Selkäharju, Lappeenranta, in eastern Finland.
