Europe’s largest green hydrogen system goes live

Germany’s largest proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser has gone into operation at BASF’s Ludwigshafen site. 
Designed to produce zero-carbon hydrogen, the electrolyser has a connected load of 54MW and the capacity to supply the main plant with up to one metric ton of this substantial chemical feedstock every hour. 

After a construction period of around two years, the plant was officially inaugurated today in the presence of the Rhineland-Palatinate State Minister for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, and Mobility Katrin Eder, and Udo Philipp, State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

Built in cooperation with Siemens Energy, the water electrolyser
is embedded in the production and infrastructure at the Ludwigshafen site, making it truly unique in terms of its interface and integration into a chemical production environment.

 A total of 72 stacks – modules in which the actual electrolysis process takes place – have been installed in the system. The electrolyser has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at BASF’s main plant by up to 72,000 metric tons per year.

The emission-free production of hydrogen – using electricity from renewable sources – is fundamental to the market ramp-up of chemical products with a reduced carbon footprint. 

Once produced, the hydrogen is fed into the site’s
hydrogen Verbund network and distributed to the production facilities as a raw material.

In addition to using it as a feedstock for chemical products, BASF plans to supply hydrogen for mobility in the Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region, supporting the development of a hydrogen economy in the area.

Katja Scharpwinkel, member of BASF SE’s Board of Executive Directors and Site Director Ludwigshafen, said: “The commissioning of the electrolyser makes it possible for us to support our customers in achieving their climate targets by offering them products with a lower carbon footprint. 

“At the same time, we are gaining experience at our largest Verbund site with the integration
and operation of a system that brings us another step closer to transforming our main plant in Ludwigshafen. 

“We welcome the fact that the federal Government and state Government have recognised the importance of this technology and provided us with significant support toward the project’s implementation.”

In cooperation with the State of Rhineland-Palatinate, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action provided funding of up to €124.3 million for the construction of the plant – €37.3 million of which was financed by the Government of Rhineland-Palatinate. 

Alexander Schweitzer, Minister-President of Rhineland-Palatinate, commented: “As the state Government, we support this process with up to €37.3
million because we are convinced that hydrogen plays a key role in decarbonising and securing our industrial jobs. 

“Today's inauguration sends a strong signal for a climate-neutral future and strengthens Ludwigshafen as a business location.”

BASF’s investment in the project amounts to around €25 million. The project, entitled Hy4CHem, was selected as part of the IPCEI Hydrogen expression of interest procedure and subsequently funded as an individual project.

Among other applications, hydrogen is used in the production of ammonia, methanol, and vitamins. 

Until now, hydrogen has been produced at the Ludwigshafen location primarily by means of natural gas-based steam reforming or as a coupling product and by-product. 

With the electrolyser, BASF is now taking an important step in the transformation of hydrogen production technology.