Solar Foods
Solar Foods Oyj is a Finnish food technology company that produces Solein, a single-cell protein ingredient via proprietary gas fermentation of CO2, hydrogen, and renewable electricity, supplying B2B food manufacturers across health, performance nutrition, dairy alternatives, and emerging space food applications.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersHelsinki, Finland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Solar Foods does
Solar Foods Oyj is a Finnish food technology company that produces Solein, a single-cell protein ingredient manufactured through proprietary gas fermentation of carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and renewable electricity using a naturally occurring microorganism discovered in Finnish nature. The company operates Factory 01 in Vantaa, Finland, with 160 tons of annual Solein production capacity (operational since 2024), and is constructing Factory 02 in Lappeenranta with planned capacity of 6,400 tons per year by 2028-2029. Solein delivers 78% protein content with a PDCAAS score of 1.0 matching whey protein quality, all nine essential amino acids, plus fiber, iron, and B vitamins including B12, while generating emissions equal to approximately 1% of conventional meat and 20% of plant proteins.
Solar Foods firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Solar Foods
- Legal name
- Solar Foods Oyj
- Website
- https://solarfoods.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Solar Foods Oyj is a Finnish food technology company that produces Solein, a single-cell protein ingredient via proprietary gas fermentation of CO2, hydrogen, and renewable electricity, supplying B2B food manufacturers across health, performance nutrition, dairy alternatives, and emerging space food applications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Solar Foods industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Alternative Protein Ingredients
- NAICS
- Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing (3114)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Plant-Based Dairy-Alternative Ingredients & Bases Manufacturing (Emulsions, Fat Systems, Protein/Starch Bases for B2B) (AFAHAJAI)
Keywords
Where Solar Foods is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Helsinki
- HQ country
- Finland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Solar Foods business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- B2B Protein Ingredient Sales: Solar Foods supplies Solein protein ingredient to food product manufacturers. Solein pricing is based on its use case and other protein alternatives available in the market. Currently production is limited with prices in the hundreds of euros per kilogram. The company aims for whey protein isolate price parity in the Health & Performance nutrition segment.
- Technology and Organism Licensing: In some regions or product categories, Solar Foods licenses its hydrogen fermentation technology and production organisms to industrial partners. The licensee would be responsible for building and operating Solein factories and would receive the right to sell Solein in specified regions or product categories. Solar Foods would receive a license fee based on a percentage of the licensee's total revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Health & Performance Nutrition Segment |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Solar Foods product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Solar Foods produces Solein, a single-cell protein ingredient manufactured through proprietary hydrogen (gas) fermentation using carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and renewable electricity. The company sells Solein as a B2B ingredient to global and local food manufacturers, brand owners, and food product companies for use in protein powders, beverages, dairy alternatives, and other food applications, and licenses its fermentation technology and organism to industrial partners in certain regions.
Product overview
Solar Foods is a Finnish food technology company that produces Solein®, a single-cell protein ingredient through a proprietary hydrogen fermentation process using carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and renewable electricity. The company operates Factory 01 in Vantaa, Finland (160 tons/year capacity) and is developing Factory 02 in Lappeenranta (6,400 tons/year planned). Solar Foods supplies Solein as a B2B ingredient to food manufacturers while also enabling consumer products through partnerships. Solein is marketed for its nutritional profile (78% protein, complete amino acids, iron, B12) and minimal environmental footprint (1% emissions of conventional meat). Consumer-facing products include protein powders (via Ambrosia Collective/Planta), dairy-free cream alternatives, and ready-to-drink beverages. The company also explores space food applications with ESA.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Planta: A brand by Ambrosia Collective offering protein powder made with Solein. The ready-to-mix protein powder is available in salted caramel coldbrew flavor with 20g protein per serving.
- PRVL
Products and services
- Solein® Protein Ingredient Solein is a naturally occurring single-cell protein ingredient produced through gas fermentation using carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and electricity, containing 78% protein with all nine essential amino acids, PDCAAS score of 1.0, 10% fiber, iron, and B vitamins. Sold as a B2B ingredient to food manufacturers and brand owners for use in protein powders, dairy alternatives, beverages, baked goods, and other food categories.
- Solein Cream Dairy-free cream alternative made from Solein microbial protein that replicates traditional cream's texture and functionality. High-protein, allergen-free, made with only three ingredients, suitable for food manufacturers and food service operators seeking dairy alternatives.
Quantifiable outcome
- Emissions equal to just 1% of conventional meat production and 20% of plant proteins
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Solar Foods
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Solar Foods technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Solar Foods partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Ambrosia CollectivecoreSports nutrition brand partnership to launch Planta Powered by Solein, the first US consumer product with Solein protein powder. Product delivers 20g protein per serving with PDCAAS score of 1.0, available on Ambrosia's website with Amazon distribution.
- FortummajorLeading Nordic energy company partnership for energy services of Factory 02. Fortum responsible for design and pre-engineering of hydrogen production, heating and cooling solutions, and electricity infrastructure. First commercial project combining energy-, hydrogen- and electrification-as-a-service models.
- BalticSeaH2 ConsortiumcoreEU-funded hydrogen economy project, largest cross-border hydrogen valley in Europe linking Finland and Estonia with 40 partners from nine countries targeting 60,000 tonnes annual hydrogen production. Solar Foods demonstrating industrial hydrogen use case in protein production with EUR 350,000 funding.
- Pothos (PRVL brand)coreUS nutritional supplement company partnership to produce ready-to-mix vegan protein powders under PRVL brand, launching in US in early 2026. First commercial deal for Solein in US market.
- FermentacoreHealth and performance nutrition startup partnership to roll out limited-edition protein bars featuring Solein in US market Q1 2026, marking one of first commercial introductions of CO2-fermented protein to American market.
- AjinomotocoreJapanese food conglomerate partnership using Solein protein creamer in GRe:en Drop Coffee, a dairy-free coffee beverage. Partnership reduces CO2 emissions by 25% compared to conventional coffee. Launched in Singapore with plans to expand to other countries including Thailand.
- GEAmajorOne of world's largest systems suppliers for food, beverage, and pharmaceutical sectors. Exclusivity agreement to negotiate supply agreement for design, construction, and delivery of process equipment and related services for Factory 02. Long-term strategic partnership agreement negotiations underway.
- H2 SpringboardminorNext-generation hydrogen technology development ecosystem that Solar Foods participates in alongside BalticSeaH2.
- European Space Agency (ESA)coreESA partnership to trial space food biomanufacturing technologies aboard International Space Station. Solein protein powder being tested for sustainable nutrition solutions to support autonomous deep space exploration missions.
- Vicus Capital AdvisorsminorAppointed as advisor for exploring real estate investment opportunities for Factory 02 in Lappeenranta.
Scale indicators16 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Solar Foods competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Ajinomoto: Japanese food and amino acid conglomerate and an existing Solar Foods commercial partner — broad incumbent serving global CPG with specialty protein ingredients and a credible acquirer/distributor of novel proteins.
- Quorn Foods: UK-headquartered established producer of mycoprotein (fungus-based) foods under its own consumer brand — comparable alternative protein incumbency at scale, though using traditional fungal fermentation rather than gas fermentation.
- dsm-firmenich: Global nutrition and ingredients giant with active investments in alternative proteins (notably acquired Glycom) — broad incumbent with overlapping specialty protein B2B ingredient portfolio and routes to global CPG customers.
- Impossible Foods: US plant-based meat incumbent with proprietary ingredient technology and global CPG distribution — adjacent alternative protein incumbent serving similar end-customers in food service and retail.
Emerging players
- Remilk: Israel-based precision-fermentation company producing animal-free dairy proteins (whey and casein) at industrial scale for B2B customers — adjacent novel protein platform competing in overlapping dairy-alternative use cases.
- The EVERY Company (formerly Clara Foods): US precision-fermentation company producing animal-free egg proteins via microbial fermentation — adjacent novel protein ingredient platform serving food manufacturers with similar B2B GTM motion.
Direct peers
- Perfect Day: US precision-fermentation company producing animal-free whey and casein proteins via microbial fermentation for B2B ingredient customers — comparable novel protein B2B ingredient model, though precision rather than gas fermentation.
- Nature's Fynd: Chicago-based food tech producing Fy Protein from a fungus via aerobic fermentation, selling dairy and meat alternatives as a B2B and DTC ingredient — directly comparable novel microbial protein platform.
- Deep Branch Biotechnology: UK-based company developing single-cell protein using gas fermentation (hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria) for food and feed applications, sharing the same core CO2-to-protein technology stack as Solar Foods.
- Air Protein: US-based food tech company producing protein ingredients via gas fermentation from CO2 and hydrogen — the closest direct competitor to Solar Foods' Solein, using a similar air-based single-cell protein approach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Solar Foods social profiles
Digital presenceSolar Foods compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Solar Foods financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Solar Foods leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Solar Foods funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds11 records
Investors13 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Solar Foods M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Solar Foods
What does Solar Foods do?
Solar Foods produces Solein, a single-cell protein ingredient manufactured through proprietary hydrogen (gas) fermentation using carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and renewable electricity. The company sells Solein as a B2B ingredient to global and local food manufacturers, brand owners, and food product companies for use in protein powders, beverages, dairy alternatives, and other food applications, and licenses its fermentation technology and organism to industrial partners in certain regions.
Is Solar Foods a public or private company?
Solar Foods is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Solar Foods founded?
Solar Foods was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Solar Foods based?
Solar Foods is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, in the Europe region.
How does Solar Foods make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. B2B Protein Ingredient Sales are the primary driver. The others are technology and Organism Licensing.
Who are Solar Foods's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Ajinomoto, Quorn Foods, dsm-firmenich and Impossible Foods. Emerging players are Remilk and The EVERY Company (formerly Clara Foods). Direct peers are Perfect Day, Nature's Fynd, Deep Branch Biotechnology and Air Protein.
Does Solar Foods have an API?
No public API is recorded for Solar Foods.
What industry is Solar Foods in?
Solar Foods's product category is Alternative Protein Ingredients. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAHAJAI, Plant-Based Dairy-Alternative Ingredients & Bases Manufacturing (Emulsions, Fat Systems, Protein/Starch Bases for B2B). Its NAICS code is 3114 and its SIC code is 2000.