Uppsala – – September 29, 2026 -- Metacon AB has launched a 20 MW multi-level alkaline electrolysis module designed to cut balance-of-plant costs for large-scale hydrogen production by up to 70% on area-related infrastructure.
Compact design slashes steel and piping costs for hydrogen developers
The Swedish company's new module reduces steel structure costs by up to 30% and piping system expenses by up to 50% compared with conventional building-based electrolysis installations. The stacked design places electrolyser stacks on a lower level with gas-handling equipment and cooling units above, shrinking the plot footprint required per megawatt of installed capacity.
Smaller footprint eliminates need for factory buildings around hydrogen systems
Metacon said the new layout can completely remove the requirement for a surrounding factory building, cutting costs at the system level. Shorter process, utility and electrical interconnections further reduce construction and assembly work on site, a factor the company says strengthens project economics where land is scarce or expensive.
Module builds on 10 MW platform to enable standardized capacity scaling
The 20 MW unit shares modular principles with Metacon's existing 10 MW module, allowing units to be installed individually or in parallel as plant capacity expands. The repeatable design is intended to simplify transport and installation while supporting future capacity increases without redesigning core components.
Christer Wikner, President and CEO of Metacon, said the company has moved beyond optimizing electrolyser stacks to address other major cost drivers across the full plant design, calling the module a standardization initiative that drives both cost reduction and quality through component repeatability.
Metacon noted that actual cost savings will vary depending on site conditions, project scope and final engineering design. The company's Electrolysis business unit develops large-scale hydrogen plants in partnership with PERIC Hydrogen Technologies of Handan, China, a supplier of pressurized alkaline electrolysis technology.