After two years of construction, BASF has commissioned the 54-MW electrolyzer at its Ludwigshafen site. The PEM electrolyzer can produce up to one ton of hydrogen per hour. Developed in cooperation with Siemens Energy, the facility produces up to one ton of hydrogen hourly and is directly connected to the site's hydrogen network. The project, funded with 124.3 million euros, marks an important step in the technology transition.
According to BASF, the facility commissioned on March 17 is Germany's largest PEM electrolyzer. The system comprises 72 stacks and has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 72,000 tons per year. The chemical company aims to gain experience through operating the facility, which should contribute to the transformation of the main plant.
After two years of construction, the inauguration took place in the presence of Katrin Eder, Minister for Climate Protection, Environment and Mobility of Rhineland-Palatinate, and Udo Philipp, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection. During the inauguration, Philipp expressed his delight that "the federal government's efforts to ramp up hydrogen in Germany are bearing fruit." He describes the project as a "lighthouse project for the integration of hydrogen into a chemical production site" and as an "important pioneer in achieving our climate goals."
The water electrolyzer, built in cooperation with Siemens Energy, is fully integrated into the site's production and infrastructure systems. The chemical company describes this integration into the production environment as unique worldwide.
Green hydrogen for chemical production and mobility
The emission-free hydrogen production using electricity from renewable sources forms the foundation for the market ramp-up of chemical products with a reduced CO₂ footprint. The green hydrogen flows directly into the site's H₂ network and is available to production facilities as a raw material. BASF also plans to provide hydrogen for mobility applications in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region.
Alexander Schweitzer, Minister President of Rhineland-Palatinate, describes the commissioning as a "milestone for the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany and Europe." The project shows how the transformation of the energy-intensive chemical industry can succeed – "innovative, sustainable and internationally competitive."
The project funding was provided by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection in cooperation with the state of Rhineland-Palatinate with up to 124.3 million euros. The state of Rhineland-Palatinate contributed 37.3 million euros. BASF invested around 25 million euros. The "Hy4CHem" project was selected as part of the IPCEI Hydrogen and later funded as an individual project.
Hydrogen has various applications at the site, such as in the production of ammonia and methanol or in the production of vitamins. Until now, BASF has mainly produced hydrogen in Ludwigshafen using natural gas-based steam reforming or uses it as a coupling and by-product. With the new electrolyzer, the company is taking an important step in the technology transition of hydrogen production.
