Technology

Technologies for fossil-free hydrogen production

Metacon develops and offers systems for hydrogen production based on both alkaline electrolysis and catalytic reforming.

The two technologies support different applications, scales and energy system configurations – from industrial hydrogen production to local energy systems and fuel cell integration.

Hydrogen can be produced in different ways depending on available energy sources, feedstocks and end-use requirements. Through alkaline electrolysis, hydrogen is produced from water and electricity. When powered by renewable electricity, the process produces hydrogen without direct carbon dioxide emissions. Through catalytic reforming, hydrogen can be produced from renewable or biogenic feedstocks such as biogas, biogenic ethanol or green ammonia, depending on the system configuration.

Alkaline electrolysis

Alkaline water electrolysis is a well-established technology for producing fossil-free hydrogen at scale. The process uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen and is particularly relevant where proven performance, scalability and low operating cost are important requirements. Metacon offers alkaline electrolysis systems in close cooperation with PERIC Hydrogen Technologies, based on a licence model that enables Metacon to market and sell the technology under its own brand.

Catalytic reforming

Metacon’s proprietary reforming technology is based on catalytic steam reforming. The process uses catalytic surfaces in a reactor to convert suitable feedstocks into hydrogen. When renewable or biogenic feedstocks are used, the process can support fossil-free or low-carbon hydrogen production, depending on the feedstock, system design and overall lifecycle conditions.

In configurations using biogenic methane and carbon capture, the technology may also support carbon-negative outcomes, depending on system boundaries and capture performance. This makes reforming relevant for applications where hydrogen production needs to be integrated with existing biogas, ethanol, ammonia or carbon management systems.

Local hydrogen production and energy resilience

Local hydrogen production can help reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and centralised energy supply. In suitable configurations, hydrogen can be produced from local renewable electricity or biogenic feedstocks and used for transport, industry, power generation or fuel cell applications. Waste heat, oxygen and other process outputs may also be used in nearby systems, such as district heating or biogas production, where the local infrastructure allows it.

Two reforming designs

Metacon offers reforming technology in two main designs, developed for different applications and market segments. Both are based on catalytic steam reforming as the underlying principle.

Compact plate design: This design is intended for integration with smaller fuel cell and CHP systems, typically in the range of 1–5 kW. It operates at low pressure and is designed for applications where compact integration with fuel cells, power units or battery charging systems is required.

Piping construction: This design is intended for larger hydrogen production applications, with capacities in the range of 10–500 Nm3/h. It is designed for operation at 8–10 bar and can be combined with pressure swing adsorption to achieve hydrogen purity of up to 99.999 percent. This makes it suitable for industrial processes, combined heat and power systems, hydrogen vehicles and hydrogen internal combustion engines.