Sweden’s Metacon has established a partnership with Siemens to produce Chinese-designed hydrogen cell systems for the European market.

Previously, Metacon obtained the exclusive license for a complete electrolysis unit based on the Chinese PERIC pressurized alkaline electrolysis module in early 2024.

The Sweden-based company has access to PERIC’s 5MW and 10MW electrolyzer modules, which are licensed for “most” European countries.

PXIE-6614 Following the signing of the OME license and manufacturing agreement with PERIC, Metacon said it will explore building an electrolyzer plant with a capacity of up to 500MW before scaling up to 1GW.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Siemens will become Metacon’s technology partner and provide digital services and software for optimizing, standardizing and simulating the manufacturing and operation of hydrogen plants.

Metacon CEO and President Christer Wikner said the company has “major plans” to invest in manufacturing in order to become one of the “market leaders” in large hydrogen plants in Europe.

Wikner said: “It is hard for me to imagine a better partner than Siemens on such a journey. This partnership gives us the opportunity to accelerate and optimize a core part of our unique Gigafactory project.”

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Mikael Kraft, Head of factory Automation and Sales at Siemens Digital Industries, added: “The collaboration with Metacon is a sign that we are creating a more sustainable world by, for example, developing innovative solutions for the energy industry.”

PXIE-6614 In the face of the EU’s ambitious renewable energy targets, the European photovoltaic industry is facing an existential crisis, with fierce competition from China, declining manufacturing capacity and regulatory challenges.

In recent months, many EU-based Oems have warned that they may file for bankruptcy, suspend production, close plants or restructure debt. In March (2024), Switzerland-based Meyer Burger(Europe’s largest photovoltaic module production company) closed its German solar photovoltaic module factory in Freiburg.

Manufacturers called on the EU for support, warning that “recent trends highlight the significant challenges that continue to threaten the viability of the industry.” SIRE’s position paper, which is made up of seven EU regions, says the Chinese low-price module “distorts competition and intensifies market pressures.”