BASF and MAN Energy Solutions have entered into a strategic partnership to pursue the construction of an industrial-scale heat pump facility.
This be based at the BASF site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and the project intends to cut greenhouse gas emissions, establishing the use of low-CO2 technologies in chemical production and reducing the site’s natural gas consumption.
As a first step, the project partners are conducting a feasibility study that is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
The planned large-scale heat pump will enable production of steam using electricity from renewable energy, tapping waste heat from the cooling water system at BASF as a source of thermal energy.
The residual heat in the water will be processed using compression to produce steam that will be fed into the site’s steam network.
By integrating the planned heat pump into the site’s production infrastructure, up to 150 tph of steam can be produced, equivalent to a thermal output of 120 MW. The project could reduce CO2 emissions at the site by up to 390 000 tpy. At the same time, it would make the cooling water system more efficient and less dependent on climate and weather conditions.
Dr Martin Brudermüller, chairman of the board of executive directors of BASF, said: “In the medium term, we want to reduce our CO2 emissions by 25% by 2030. The use of technologies such as large heat pumps, which already exist and can be scaled up to industrial size, brings us a lot closer to this goal. In our cooperation with MAN Energy Solutions, we combine the expertise of a chemical Verbund site with the know-how required for the technological implementation of a project like this. This technology also has the potential to pave the way for projects at other BASF sites.”
Dr. Uwe Lauber, CEO of MAN Energy Solutions, added: “We are really looking forward to the close collaboration with BASF. Space heating and process heat account for around one-third of German greenhouse gas emissions.
“Together with BASF, we want to address this significant lever with an innovative solution. We are convinced that our heat pump solution can make a decisive contribution to a climate-friendly supply of steam at the Ludwigshafen site. BASF is a global pioneer in the energy transformation in the chemical industry, a role model for the deployment of innovative technologies to protect the planet, and a great project partner. Industry and climate protection both rely on the innovations that arise from such strong partnerships.”
BASF and Man Energy Solutions combine to produce one of the largest heat pump facilities
