BASF Inaugurates Germany’s Largest PEM Electrolyser in Ludwigshafen

Germany’s largest proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser has been put into operation at BASF’s Ludwigshafen site. With a connected load of 54 MW, the electrolyser can supply up to one metric ton of zero-carbon hydrogen per hour to the main plant.

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

The water electrolyser, built by BASF in cooperation with Siemens Energy, is embedded in the production and infrastructure of the Ludwigshafen site. With a total of 72 stacks (modules where the actual electrolysis process takes place), the system will reduce greenhouse gas emissions at BASF’s main site by up to 72,000 metric tons per year.

Zero-emission hydrogen production using electricity generated from renewable sources is the basis for market growth in chemical products with a reduced carbon footprint. In addition to using it as a raw material for chemical products, BASF also plans to provide hydrogen for transportation in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan area and support the development of a hydrogen economy in the region.

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, in cooperation with the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, has provided up to 124.3 million euros for the construction of the plant, of which 37.3 million euros are funded by the Rhineland-Palatinate state government. BASF's investment in the project is approximately 25 million euros.

Katja Scharpwinkel, member of the Executive Board of BASF SE and director of the Ludwigshafen site, said: "The commissioning of the electrolyser enables us to offer our customers products with a lower carbon footprint, thus helping them achieve their climate goals. Through the integration and operation of the system, we have further transformed the main plant of the Ludwigshafen integrated site. We are pleased that the federal and state governments recognize the importance of this technology and provide strong support for the implementation of our project."