© BASF

BASF has launched Europe’s largest proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer at its Ludwigshafen site in Germany. The 54 MW plant, built with Siemens Energy, produces up to one metric ton of zero-carbon hydrogen per hour. This is a major step in cutting emissions at BASF’s operations and expanding Germany’s hydrogen sector.

Industrial Use and Emission Reduction

The electrolyzer is fully integrated into BASF’s production network, supplying hydrogen for ammonia, methanol, and vitamin production. It will generate 8,000 tons of green hydrogen per year, replacing part of the 250,000 tons of hydrogen currently produced at Ludwigshafen using fossil gas and by-products. This shift will reduce up to 72,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually.

Government Support and Investment

The Ludwigshafen electrolyzer is classified as an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI), securing €124.3 million in funding from the German federal and Rhineland-Palatinate governments. BASF invested €25 million in the project.

Hydrogen Supply for Transport

BASF also plans to supply hydrogen for transport in the Rhine-Neckar area, including Mannheim and Heidelberg. The company confirmed that renewable electricity from power purchase agreements (PPAs) powers the electrolyzer.

Advancing Hydrogen Production

Katja Scharpwinkel, BASF SE board member and site director for Ludwigshafen, said: “The commissioning of the electrolyzer allows us to support our customers in achieving their climate targets by offering them products with a lower carbon footprint.”

Germany’s hydrogen sector is expanding, and BASF’s Ludwigshafen electrolyzer is now the country’s largest in operation. While it replaces only 3.2% of BASF’s total hydrogen use, it is an important step toward cutting emissions in energy-intensive industries.