Metacon AB (publ) has launched a compact 20 MW multi-level alkaline electrolysis module that enables more cost-efficient deployment of large scale hydrogen production plants. The optimised modular design reduces space requirements and lowers balance-of-plant costs, with savings of up to 30% on steel structures, up to 50% on piping systems, and up to 70% on area-related infrastructure compared with conventional building-based solutions.
As industrial hydrogen plants scale up, the site area required for each megawatt of installed capacity becomes increasingly important as it has a direct impact on construction, materials and site-integration costs. Metacon's new multi-level module places more production capacity on a smaller plot, reducing the amount of steel structure, piping, insulation, pipe supports and other site infrastructure required. This strengthens the business case for projects where land is limited or expensive, while also reducing costs that increase with the physical size of the installation. The new design can also completely remove the need for a factory building around the hydrogen generation system, resulting in significant savings at system level.
The new 20 MW module now launched uses a compact multi-level steel-frame arrangement, with electrolyser stacks on the lower level and gas-handling equipment and cooling units positioned above. The design maintains safety provisions and provides practical access for operation and maintenance. This layout reduces the required plot area and shortens process, utility, and electrical interconnections.
Metacon's new 20 MW module is based on the same modular principles as Metacon's 10 MW module, with a repeatable design that simplifies transport, installation and future capacity expansion. The modules can be installed individually or in parallel as plant capacity increases, reducing the amount of construction and assembly work required on site.
Compared to conventional building-based installation, calculations indicate cost reductions of up to 30% for the steel module and up to 50% for piping materials, insulation, pipe supports and related items. Other costs linked to the required installation area can be reduced by up to 70%. The exact magnitude of these cost reductions will depend on site conditions, project scope and final design.
"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", said Christer Wikner, President and CEO of Metacon.