BASF has commissioned Germany's largest proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer at its Ludwigshafen facility. The newly operational electrolyzer, designed to generate zero-carbon hydrogen, has a connected load of 54 megawatts and can supply up to one metric ton of hydrogen per hour to the main plant. Following approximately two years of construction, the facility was inaugurated today in the presence of Katrin Eder, Rhineland-Palatinate’s State Minister for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, and Mobility, along with Udo Philipp, State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

Developed in collaboration with Siemens Energy, this electrolyzer is seamlessly integrated into BASF’s production and infrastructure, setting it apart from conventional systems. The electrolyzer incorporates 72 stacks, where the electrolysis process occurs, and has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the Ludwigshafen site by up to 72,000 metric tons annually.

The hydrogen produced through this emission-free process is powered by renewable energy sources and is vital for scaling up chemical products with a reduced carbon footprint. The hydrogen is fed into the site's hydrogen Verbund network and distributed as a raw material for production facilities. Additionally, BASF plans to provide hydrogen to support mobility initiatives in the Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region, promoting a growing hydrogen economy.

The project received significant financial support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and the State of Rhineland-Palatinate, totaling up to €124.3 million, with €37.3 million contributed by Rhineland-Palatinate. BASF itself invested approximately €25 million in the Hy4CHem project, which was selected under the IPCEI Hydrogen initiative as an individual project eligible for funding.

Katja Scharpwinkel, BASF SE Board Member and Ludwigshafen Site Director, highlighted the project's role in advancing climate goals, saying, "The commissioning of the electrolyzer allows us to help our customers meet their climate targets by offering lower-carbon products. This milestone also enables us to gain valuable experience in integrating and operating this innovative system at our largest Verbund site. We greatly appreciate the support from the federal and state governments in making this vision a reality."

Alexander Schweitzer, Minister-President of Rhineland-Palatinate, called the electrolyzer a landmark achievement for the region's hydrogen economy and praised BASF's commitment to innovative, sustainable industry transformation. He noted the state's financial backing, emphasizing the role of hydrogen in ensuring industrial job security and achieving climate-neutral goals.

Udo Philipp, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, lauded the project as a pioneering step toward industrial decarbonization, demonstrating the potential for hydrogen integration in large-scale chemical production. Katrin Eder underscored BASF's ambitious move toward net-zero emissions, acknowledging the company's efforts to adopt renewable energy and materials to replace fossil fuels like natural gas.

Hydrogen produced by the new electrolyzer will contribute to manufacturing essential chemicals such as ammonia, methanol, and vitamins. Historically, BASF has produced hydrogen at the Ludwigshafen site using natural gas-based steam reforming or as a by-product. The electrolyzer marks a significant advancement in hydrogen production, reinforcing BASF’s commitment to a sustainable energy future.