LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany — On May 21 in Ludwigshafen, Germany, Dr. Martin Brudermüller of BASF and Dr. Markus Krebber of RWE, accompanied by Chairman of the Mining, Chemical and Energy Industries Union (IG BCE) Michael Vassiliadis, presented a project idea that shows how industrial production can become sustainable and future-proof. The project envisions an additional offshore wind farm with a capacity of 2 gigawatts (GW) to provide the Ludwigshafen chemical site with green electricity and enable CO₂-free production of hydrogen. The aim is to electrify the production processes for basic chemicals, which are currently based on fossil fuels.

The project will involve utilizing CO₂-free technologies such as electrically heated steam cracker furnaces to produce petrochemicals. BASF is already working with partners on developing these technologies. To advance the joint project, the CEOs of BASF and RWE have signed a letter of intent covering a wide-ranging cooperation for the creation of additional capacities for renewable electricity and the use of innovative technologies for climate protection.

“Together we want to accelerate the transition to a CO₂-neutral chemical industry through electrification and through the use of CO₂-free hydrogen,” said Brudermüller and Krebber.

Vassiliadis commented, “Here, two strong partners are making climate-friendly transformation and energy transition tangible and concrete. We stand behind this major project because it can be a symbol for the innovative power of industry and its employees. In many places, they are working with great passion and expertise to shape the transformation. They deserve all the support they can get.”

The plans could result in the avoidance of around 3.8 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions per year, of which 2.8 million tons would be realized directly by BASF in Ludwigshafen. It shows very clearly how climate protection and competitiveness can be harmonized in the chemical industry. The companies report that no public subsidies would be needed for the construction of the wind farm.

Brudermüller, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE, stressed, “Without the availability of sufficient volumes of electricity from renewable sources at competitive prices, our future transformation will not be possible! This task is only achievable with innovative and intensive cooperation between politics and industry. And it requires collaboration across the value chains. In our partnership between RWE as a leading company in power generation and BASF in chemicals, we bring together the necessary prerequisites and the will to shape things.”

Krebber, CEO of RWE, added, “Coupling a new offshore wind farm already in the planning stage to an industrial customer such as BASF, who will convert its production to green electricity and hydrogen on this basis, would be a first for Germany. The realization of our proposal would represent a true acceleration of the expansion of renewable energies. Of course, there are still some open questions, but we want to push this forward – the faster, the better. This is how we will shape the energy transition.”

With the project, BASF and RWE show how a cleverly planned transformation of Germany’s industrial sector can succeed. “We are convinced: Climate-neutral industrial production ‘made in Germany’ ensures that value added and employment remain in Germany and opens up export opportunities for new technologies,” said Brudermüller and Krebber.

For more information about BASF, visit www.basf.com.