Europe’s largest completed green hydrogen project has started operations at BASF’s Ludwigshafen site in south-west Germany.
The 54MW proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser has overtaken the 24MW PEM electrolyser based at Yara, a Norwegian chemical company, which previously held the title.
Hydrogen is a vital gas for BASF and is used as a raw material for many applications at the site, including the production of ammonia.
Previously, hydrogen was produced at the site from hydrocarbons using natural gas-based steam reforming. This process – known as grey hydrogen – emits high levels of CO2.
BASF set itself a mission of producing hydrogen without CO2. For the past two years it has partnered with Siemens Energy to build the €124m Hy4Chem PEM electrolyser project.
The electrolyser produces hydrogen using electricity from renewable sources through a water electrolysis process. The only emission from this process is oxygen.
The 54MW PEM electrolyser’s design includes 72 stacks or modules...