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During the launch ceremony presided by Ms. Tove Røskaft, chairwoman of UAC, Zhu Dequan, vice president of the Beijing Tsinghua Industrial R&D Institute, emphasised that among the three hydrogen storage technologies — gas, liquid and solid — high-pressure gaseous storage remains the mainstream, and Type IV glass fibre containers technology developed at the Jiaxing facility have unique advantages in safety and reliability, making them a rare mature hydrogen storage and transportation solution globally.
Norwegian expertise with Chinese speed
The event introduced the new generation of large-capacity Type IV glass fibre hydrogen storage cylinders and Multi-Element Gas Containers (MEGCs). These large-capacity Type IV glass fibre cylinders reduce weight by up to 70% compared to traditional Type I steel cylinders, with single-cylinder water volumes ranging from 800-2500 L and working pressures from 200-450 bar. Storage and transportation efficiency is improved by 2-3 times, with a service life of over 20 years. According to UAC, it truly achieves higher pressure and larger volume, effectively increasing storage and transportation capacity while ensuring economic efficiency.
“Seeing our first cylinders roll off the production line in China is a huge milestone for UAC. This facility will from the start triple our global production capacity and create the foundation for future growth with potential for up to 24,000 cylinders per year across our operations in China and Norway,” said Lars Erik Lunøe, CEO of UMOE Advanced Composites. “The Jiaxing facility enables us to deliver significantly higher capacity at a competitive cost level, strengthening our ability to serve customers globally as demand for hydrogen and other compressed gases accelerates.”
The combination of glass fibre composite technology and manufacturing in China strengthens the commercial viability of hydrogen projects by reducing storage and transport costs, supporting faster scaling of zero-emission mobility, shipping and industrial applications.
The 12,000 m² facility represents a significant step toward UAC’s global growth strategy and will play a central role in supporting the expansion of hydrogen and clean gas logistics across Asia and international markets. The site has a potential annual capacity of up to 20,000 composite cylinders. In parallel, the company is pursuing a special permit to enable domestic market distribution, supporting future deliveries within China.
Also suitable for CNG applications
The event also announced that MEGCs units produced at the Jiaxing facility will be delivered to Hiringa Sundown joint venture, for the Good Earth Green Hydrogen and Ammonia (GEGHA) Project, an integrated solar-powered hydrogen and ammonia project currently under construction in New South Wales, Australia, and designed to supply green ammonia and hydrogen for industrial and transport use. The project forms part of Hiringa’s broader hydrogen infrastructure development across Australia and New Zealand. The delivery comprises five MEGCs in total – two 20-foot and three 40-foot units – providing flexible, scalable storage capacity to support hydrogen transport and distribution within the project’s logistics infrastructure.
“UAC has already supplied Type IV Multi-Element Gas Containers from Norway for Hiringa Energy’s first four hydrogen refuelling stations operating in New Zealand. That proven performance in our operating hydrogen refuelling network gives us confidence to source additional storage from UAC’s new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in China for the Hiringa Sundown Joint Venture project in Australia. Access to the same high-quality, cost-competitive gas storage, produced closer to our markets, strengthens our ability to scale hydrogen infrastructure,” said Alistair Tippett, Hiringa head of projects & engineering at Hiringa Energy.
While the first MEGCs produced at the Jiaxing facility will be used for hydrogen storage, the same systems are also suitable for compressed natural gas (CNG) applications. With production now underway, UAC is strengthening its ability to support the rapid expansion of hydrogen and clean gas logistics across Asia-Pacific and global markets. Local manufacturing strengthens the commercial case for glass fibre cylinders in regions such as South America, the Middle East and Asia, as the hydrogen economy scales, energy systems evolve and demand grows for cost-effective storage and transportation infrastructure.
Cover photo: The product launch ceremony; from left to rightx: Alistair Tippett, Hiringa head of projects and engineering at Hiringa Energy; Lars Erik Lunøe, CEO of UAC; Zhu Dequan, vice president of the Beijing Tsinghua Industrial R&D Institute; Tove Røskaft, chairwoman of UAC; Ms. Wang Suqi, chairwoman of Shengde Group; Lin Weixuan, chairman of Youmu Technology (UAC’s joint venture in China) — source: UAC
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