Belgium’s John Cockerill has produced the first 5MW electrolyser based on technology and assets acquired from France’s McPhy, as it prepares to supply eight units to a new planned project in the Netherlands.
Manufactured and assembled at the former McPhy factory in Belfort, France, the pressurised alkaline electrolyser comes around a year after the acquisition, which included technologies, intellectual property, and 51 employees.
The Belfort facility is designed to achieve 1GW of annual production capacity, adding to Cockerill’s claimed 1GW capacities in China, North America, and India.
The firm says it is also beginning production to supply a 40MW green hydrogen project in the Netherlands, details of which remain sparse.
Responding to inquiry, Cockerill told H2 View that the client does not wish to disclose further information.
It follows the company’s April installation of 25MW of electrolysers at a Belgian port, set to produce up to 3,700 tonnes of green hydrogen per year for mobility and industrial end-users this year.
It acquired the McPhy assets after the French manufacturer entered judicial reorganisation in February 2024 amid financial difficulties exacerbated by high operational costs and a slower-than-expected commercial ramp-up.
The company’s board initiated a structured sale process in May 2025.
At the time of the acquisition, John Cockerill claimed that by combining its alkaline cells with “select” McPhy components, it expected a 10–15% competitive advantage over its current models.
Tune into the conversations shaping gases and energy. The 1895 Podcast from gasworld Global Insights (GWGI) brings you weekly analysis, insights, and interviews in a laid-back, conversational style.
Each episode explores:
• The biggest industry news and talking points
• Regional, technological, and application trends
• The role of gases in today’s energy transition
Listen and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music – or wherever you get your podcasts.
