BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions (ECMS) has begun construction on its first state-of-the-art production facility for green hydrogen and fuel cell components in Budenheim, Germany, near Frankfurt. This new site will produce low-iridium-loaded catalyst coated membranes (CCMs), which are essential for proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis. Additionally, the facility will manufacture Celtec® membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) for high-temperature fuel cells. MEAs are crucial in enabling the efficient conversion of hydrogen and oxygen into electricity within fuel cells.

The ECMS hydrogen business operates worldwide, with activities in Europe, North America, and Asia. As the renewable energy ecosystem evolves rapidly, producing green hydrogen through water electrolysis will become a vital component in supporting the global energy transition. The new facility will facilitate the commercial launch of newly developed CCMs for PEM electrolyzers, boasting multi-gigawatt capacity to satisfy global market needs. This investment enables ECMS to enhance its expertise in precious metals, catalysts, and recycling, establishing itself as an integrated, end-to-end solution provider across diverse product lines in the green hydrogen industry.

“This new facility in Budenheim is a vital component of our global hydrogen strategy,” said Tim Ingle, Senior Vice President of Precious Metal Services and Recycling for ECMS. “As a worldwide leader in precious metals services and catalyst recycling, this investment strengthens our commitment to the growing hydrogen economy by delivering circular solutions that improve performance and reduce costs for PEM electrolyzers and fuel cells.”

“Our new products have successfully transitioned from R&D to pilot scale. The commencement of production in Budenheim marks a significant milestone for their market introduction and positions us strongly to capitalize on this substantial business opportunity,” said Saeed Alerasool, Senior Vice President of R&D and Application for ECMS.

The Budenheim site is scheduled to open in the summer of 2025. Located at an industrial site in the heart of Europe within the Rhein-Main metropolitan area, the facility is being developed in collaboration with Trigona Fuel Cell Components GmbH and Grundstücksverwaltung Rheinufer GmbH & Co KG.

BASF have around 112,000 employees globally, BASF Group collaborates to ensure customer success across almost all industries and regions. In 2023, BASF recorded sales of €68.9 billion across its diverse portfolio encompassing six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care, and Agricultural Solutions. BASF shares trade on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol BAS and as American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) under the symbol BASFY in the United States.