Chemicals

Metacon Wins EU Funding for Biomethane-to-Hydrogen Pilot in Crete

Marta KaczmarekOctober 12, 20265 min read5 views

At a glance

  • Metacon's Greek subsidiary will build a pilot plant in Ierapetra, Crete, to demonstrate reforming-based hydrogen production from biomethane under the BIOH2VAP project.
  • Metacon S.A., the wholly owned Greek subsidiary of Metacon AB, has been awarded roughly €241,920 in EU funding for the BIOH2VAP project, which will construct a pilot plant at an industrial biogas site in Ierapetra, Crete, to demonstrate hydrogen production from biomethane. The company says the work adds to the commercialization roadmap for its reforming technology, with the plant planned rather than yet in operation.
Concept illustration of stainless-steel reforming modules and pipework beside cylindrical biogas digester tanks at an industrial coastal site in warm light.

Metacon S.A., the wholly owned Greek subsidiary of Metacon AB (publ) of Uppsala, Sweden, has been awarded European Union project funding to develop and demonstrate hydrogen production from biomethane. The work forms part of the BIOH2VAP project, under which the Patras-based subsidiary will validate Metacon's reforming technology in an industrial biogas setting and assess the commercial potential of converting locally produced biomethane into renewable hydrogen.

The effective amount covered by the grant is approximately €241,920. Metacon S.A.'s project budget is €302,400, of which €241,920 is covered by public funding.

Pilot plant planned for Ierapetra, Crete

A pilot plant will be constructed at an existing industrial biogas plant in Ierapetra, Crete. The installation is to cover biogas upgrading, biomethane production and demonstration of reforming-based hydrogen generation. Operation and data collection under industrial conditions are expected to provide an opportunity to evaluate and refine technical performance and operating efficiency, and to prepare for commercial deployment.

Commercialization and circular-hydrogen aims

For Metacon, the project adds to the commercialization roadmap for its proprietary reforming technology and supports the development of hydrogen solutions that use renewable feedstocks. The project also creates a platform for assessing how hydrogen production can be integrated with existing biogas infrastructure and local residue streams, with the aim of improving resource efficiency and strengthening the business case for circular hydrogen production.

Christer Wikner, president and CEO of Metacon, said the BIOH2VAP project gives the company a new industrial platform to demonstrate clean hydrogen production from biomethane and to optimize its commercial potential. He added that it expands Metacon's industrial testing base for its reforming technology and will support commercialization plans targeting future deployment at thousands of existing places internationally where biogas infrastructure and local renewables are already available.

Reported by Marta Kaczmarek, Roofing, Insulation and Moisture Editor.