Solein Gets a Workout: Solar Foods Strikes Deal to Bring Protein Made from Air into Sports Nutrition

Courtesy: Solar Foods

Solar Foods is preparing to take its air-based protein into the gym bag. The Finnish startup behind Solein®—a novel protein made using microbes, carbon dioxide, and renewable electricity—has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with a leading global brand in the Health & Performance nutrition sector, signaling a major move toward commercial applications in functional foods and supplements.

If the collaboration leads to a binding agreement, the deal would see between 500 and 1,650 tonnes of Solein commercialized annually between 2026 and 2030. That upper figure represents about 13% of the planned annual output of Factory 02, the company’s second and far larger production site now entering its pre-engineering phase.

For Solar Foods, it’s more than a supply deal—it’s a turning point. The intention is to co-develop high-protein products like ready-to-mix shakes and bars that meet growing consumer demand for nutrition, taste, and performance—without relying on conventional agriculture or animal inputs.

“This is a strong vote of confidence in Solein’s commercial potential,” said Rami Jokela, CEO of Solar Foods. “Should these preliminary agreements convert to binding contracts, they would already account for a significant share of the output from Factory 02. Customers’ interest plays a critical role in preparing for our final investment decision.”

That decision is expected in 2026, with phase one of the factory planned to go live in 2028. Once fully operational by 2030, Factory 02 is projected to produce 12,800 tonnes of Solein per year—nearly 100 times the capacity of the company’s already-operational Factory 01. Designed with a modular build-out, Factory 02 will be constructed in three stages to ensure cost efficiency and scalable unit economics.

Earlier this year, Solar Foods signed two Memorandums of Understanding with other customers, collectively targeting 6,000 tonnes of Solein output per year. If those plans and the new LOI materialize into binding contracts, the company would already have committed between 50–60% of Factory 02’s future production capacity—an impressive milestone for a company that launched its first commercial product in Singapore less than two years ago.

Courtesy: Solar Foods

While the company has kept the identity of its latest partner confidential, the focus on the Health & Performance category is no accident. The segment is one of the fastest-growing in global nutrition, driven by athletes, wellness consumers, and a new wave of “conscious optimizers” seeking functional ingredients with a sustainability edge.

This is where Solein stands out. Unlike plant-based or precision fermentation proteins, Solein is grown using a microbial fermentation process that feeds on carbon dioxide, nitrogen from the air, and hydrogen derived from renewable electricity. The result is a nutrient-rich, single-cell protein with all essential amino acids, yet produced without farmland, animals, or even sunlight.

From a sustainability standpoint, the comparison is stark. Solein production uses a fraction of the water and land required for soy or pea protein, emits radically fewer greenhouse gases, and can be made in regions where traditional agriculture is impossible. For Jokela, this is not just a technical edge—it’s a strategic one.

“Our goal is to develop products that meet consumer demands for nutrition, taste, and functionality—while delivering a distinct advantage in sustainability and future supply security,” he said.

The coming years will test how well Solein can be integrated into mainstream formats. Taste, texture, and consumer perception remain hurdles—but ones that product development partnerships like this are meant to address. Unlike early plant-based meat players that went directly to consumers, Solar Foods is pursuing a B2B strategy focused on embedding Solein into existing products and supply chains.

With regulators in Europe and the U.S. now reviewing approvals for Solein, and the company actively preparing for scale, the timing aligns with a broader shift in how proteins are sourced and marketed. What was once a curiosity—protein made from thin air—is now a commercial ingredient on the cusp of broader adoption.

And as the company lines up offtake commitments and builds momentum for Factory 02, the message is clear: Solar Foods isn’t just talking about the future of food. It’s producing it—by the tonne.