Metacon Launches 20 MW Stacked Alkaline Electrolyser Module That Cuts Site Costs by up to 70%

Swedish hydrogen technology company Metacon AB (publ) has introduced a 20 MW multi-level alkaline electrolysis module that it says can substantially lower the cost of building large hydrogen production plants.

The Uppsala-based company announced the launch on Sept. 29, 2026, positioning the product as an answer to a problem that grows as industrial hydrogen plants scale up: the sheer amount of land, steel and piping each megawatt of installed capacity demands.

A Push Beyond the Electroser Stack

According to Metacon, the calculated savings relative to conventional building-based solutions reach up to 30% on steel structures, up to 50% on piping systems, and up to 70% on area-related infrastructure. The company stresses that these are calculated figures and that the actual magnitude of the cost reductions will depend on site conditions, project scope and the final design of each installation.

The thinking behind the module, the company explains, is that plot size has a direct impact on construction, materials and site-integration costs. By placing more production capacity on a smaller footprint, the design reduces the amount of steel structure, piping, insulation, pipe supports and other site infrastructure a project needs.

How the Multi-Level Layout Works

The 20 MW module is arranged as a compact multi-level steel frame. Electrolyser stacks sit on the lower level, while gas-handling equipment and cooling units are positioned above them. Metacon states that the stacked arrangement maintains safety provisions and still provides practical access for operation and maintenance. Beyond shrinking the plot area, the vertical layout shortens the process, utility and electrical interconnections running through the plant.

Less connecting infrastructure means less material, less labour and, in the company's assessment, lower balance-of-plant costs overall. The boldest claim in the announcement concerns the building itself. Metacon says the design can completely remove the need for a factory building around the hydrogen generation system.

Eliminating that structure, the company argues, produces significant savings at system level and strengthens the business case for projects where land is limited or expensive. It also reduces the category of costs that increase with the physical size of the installation.

Standardisation and Repeatable Design

The new module is built on the same modular principles as Metacon's existing 10 MW module. The company describes a repeatable design intended to simplify transport, installation and future capacity expansion.

Modules can be installed individually or in parallel as plant capacity grows, which reduces the amount of construction and assembly work that has to be carried out on site. Metacon frames the launch not only as a new product but as a standardisation initiative. Christer Wikner, President and CEO of Metacon, said in a statement: "Metacon continues to innovate for driving hydrogen production cost down and now look beyond the electrolyser stacks.

We have identified great opportunities to improve the complete plant design by addressing other major cost drivers. By using less space and reducing the amount of steel, piping, cabling and other infrastructure required, this module will serve as a super-efficient building module for large hydrogen production plants. At the same time, this is also a standardisation initiative where repeatability of core components drives both cost reduction as well as overall quality."

The Cost Case in Detail

The savings figures in the announcement break down into three categories. Compared with conventional building-based installation, Metacon's calculations show cost reductions of up to 30% for the steel module itself.

For piping materials, insulation, pipe supports and related items, the reduction reaches up to 50%. Costs tied to the required installation area, the category where the compact footprint makes the biggest difference, can be cut by up to 70%. The company is careful to note that these are upper-bound calculations. The exact savings for any given project will vary with site conditions, the scope of the project and the final design chosen.

Who Metacon Is and Where the Technology Comes From

Metacon AB (publ) develops, manufactures and supplies hydrogen production systems, with activities spanning design, installation, service and maintenance. The company is listed and traded on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market in Stockholm, Sweden.

The Electrolysis business unit, which is behind the new module, designs and delivers complete electrolysis plants for large-scale hydrogen production. That work is carried out in close partnership with PERIC Hydrogen Technologies, described by Metacon as one of the global leaders in pressurized alkaline electrolysis technology, based in Handan, China. The company also operates a Reforming business unit, which develops hydrogen generation solutions based on Metacon's proprietary patented HIWAR catalytic reactor technology.

These solutions consist of advanced, high-efficiency reformers that produce hydrogen through catalytic steam reforming. They can run on biogas, biomethane or other renewable feedstocks such as bioethanol and green ammonia, and operate without the need for a grid connection.

Context: Why Plot Area Matters in Large Hydrogen Plants

The launch arrives at a moment when, in Metacon's view, the site area required per megawatt of installed capacity is taking on growing importance as industrial hydrogen plants scale up. For large projects, the amount of land consumed by the plant feeds directly into construction, materials and site-integration costs. A module that packs 20 MW of electrolysis capacity into a stacked steel frame, one that dispenses with a surrounding factory building altogether, is the company's response to that cost driver. Further information is available from Christer Wikner, President & CEO, and at www.metacon.com. The announcement was distributed via Cision.