Page 14 - Vol.37-No.3 issue

ENVIRONMENT CONTROL

switch to renewable sources to meet its
electricity needs and intends to invest
in wind parks to facilitate this.
One of the most important new
technologies that BASF is currently
developing are electrically heated
steam crackers for the production of
basic chemicals such as ethylene,
propylene and butadiene. These
chemicals are building blocks for
numerous value chains and are essential
for chemical production. Hydrogen
is another important feedstock for
many chemical production processes.
To achieve CO-2free production
of hydrogen, BASF is pursuing two
processes in parallel: the commercially
available water electrolysis and
methane pyrolysis, for which BASF has
developed a new process technology. • Together with SABIC and Linde, (CCS) projects under the North
Another important lever to increase BASF is working on the realization Sea. Together with partners in the
energy efficiency is the use of electrical of a pilot furnace for the world’s first Antwerp@C consortium, this creates
heat pumps to produce CO-2free steam electrically heated steam cracker. the opportunity to avoid more than 1
from waste heat. BASF’s goal is to work Compared to conventional crackers, million metric tons of CO2 emissions
with Siemens Energy to gradually ramp this would enable nearly CO-2free per year from the production of
up this technology to industrial scale production of basic chemicals. If the basic chemicals. A final investment
and use it for waste heat recovery at necessary funding is granted, start- decision is targeted for 2022.
entire sites.
up of the pilot plant is slated to begin
BASF expects that this switch to as early as 2023. Competitiveness must be
climate-neutral production processes maintained
will lead to a sharp increase in • BASF is developing methane
electricity demand at the group’s major pyrolysis technology for the CO-2free BASF has set itself an ambitious goal
sites, including the largest production production of hydrogen from natural of climate neutrality by 2050 because
site in Ludwigshafen, in the coming gas. Compared to other processes for the company is convinced of the long-
decade. From around 2035, the group’s emission-free hydrogen production, term strategic necessity as well as the
electricity demand is expected to be methane pyrolysis requires only technical feasibility. However, most
more than three times higher than it around one-fifth as much electrical of the new technologies are not yet
is today. energy. A pilot reactor has been competitive under today’s framework
constructed in Ludwigshafen and conditions. Since it is very capital-
“This will require investments for is being started up. Funding for this intensive to replace existing highly
the development and construction of project was provided by the German efficient production processes with new
new production plants. A precondition Federal Ministry of Education and plants, BASF is trying to secure funding
for the transformation of chemical Research. from European and national programs
production is the reliable availability such as IPCEI (Important Projects of
of large quantities of renewable • In collaboration with Siemens Common European Interest).
electricity at competitive prices. At Energy, BASF is currently
the moment, that is not the case in investigating possibilities for the “We are convinced that ultimately
Germany. BASF therefore aims to construction of a PEM (proton all players involved will work
participate in investments in renewable exchange membrane) water together to make this once-in-a-
energy generation facilities to meet its electrolysis system with a capacity century transformation economically
own demand. Regulatory framework of 50 MW for CO-2free production of successful. This also includes
conditions are also essential for making hydrogen from water and electricity consumers accepting higher prices
this transformation economically at the Ludwigshafen site. This CO-2 for CO-2free products throughout the
feasible,” added Brudermüller. free hydrogen would be primarily value chain to offset higher operating
used as a raw material in the Verbund costs and additional investments. To
BASF working on but would also be used to a limited achieve this, we need new cooperation
numerous flagship extent to support the launch of the between industry and policymakers
that leads to positive, outcome-
mobility market in the Rhine-Neckar
projects metropolitan region. oriented regulations and preserves
In addition to the planned investments • At the Antwerp site, BASF is our international competitiveness,”
in renewable energies, BASF is pursuing planning to invest in one of the said Brudermüller.
a number of specific flagship projects: largest carbon capture and storage Circle 16 on enquiry card

12 Vol. 37 No. 3