BASF has received funding to build the world's largest industrial heat pump

BASF has received funding approval from German government agencies to build the world's most powerful industrial heat pump. In the coming months, the company will carry out construction preparations at the Ludwigshafen plant.

The project aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. On the 15th, Robert Habeck, Federal Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Action of Germany, handed over the funding approval document to Uwe Liebelt, President of BASF's European Integrated Site.

BASF said that the planned heat pump plant has unique advantages. It will be the first plant of its kind for steam production, and there are no similar industrial pilot projects anywhere in the world. "We are very pleased that the federal government supports the project and invests in new processes that play an important role in the development of a sustainable value chain in the chemical industry." Markus Kamieth, Chairman of the Executive Board of BASF Europe, added.

The planned heat pump can generate up to 500,000 metric tons of steam per year. The steam cracking furnace in the plant generates waste heat when cooling and cleaning the gas, which is used as a source of heat energy. Using electricity generated from renewable energy, CO2-free steam can be produced, most of which will be used to produce formic acid.

The heat pump plant can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 98%. A small portion of the CO2-free steam is supplied to other BASF plants via the on-site steam network and will enable the Group to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 100,000 metric tons per year.

“We are committed to our climate protection goal: net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. We are also committed to supporting our customers in their transformation in the best possible way,” said Uwe Liebelt, President of BASF Verbund Sites Europe. “Our Ludwigshafen site plays a key role in this and we want to make it Europe’s leading sustainable chemicals production site.”

The plant is scheduled to be operational in 2027. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action will provide 310 million euros in investment for the project as part of a carbon CFD financing program.