BASF has launched Germany’s largest proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer at its Ludwigshafen site in Germany, aiming to produce zero-carbon hydrogen. With a connected load of 54 megawatts, the plant can generate up to one metric ton of hydrogen per hour, reducing BASF’s greenhouse gas emissions by up to 72,000 metric tons annually, according to the company.

Developed in partnership with Siemens Energy, the electrolyzer is integrated into BASF’s production network, supplying hydrogen for chemical manufacturing and mobility in the Rhine-Neckar region. A total of 72 stacks – modules in which the actual electrolysis process takes place – have been installed in the system. The project, supported by €124.3 million in government funding, is a key step toward decarbonizing the chemical industry and advancing Germany’s hydrogen economy. In addition to using it as a feedstock for chemical products, BASF plans to supply hydrogen for mobility in the Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region, supporting the development of a hydrogen economy in the area.

Among other applications, hydrogen is used in the production of ammonia, methanol, and vitamins. Until now, hydrogen has been produced at the Ludwigshafen location primarily by means of natural gas-based steam reforming or as a coupling product and by-product.

• BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany