BASF replaces fossil hydrogen in ammonia production process

Company claims to be the ‘first producer of renewable ammonia in Central Europe’.

BASF is producing what it describes as two renewable ammonia grades at its Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, by feeding green hydrogen into the ammonia plant, thus reducing gas consumption.

At the plant, hydrogen is produced from fossil as well as from renewable energy-derived sources. Via a mass-balance approach, renewable energy-derived hydrogen is attributed to the renewable ammonia grades offering both gaseous and aqueous forms. They have been certified according to ISCC+.

Dr Jens Aßmann, Vice President Business Management Ammonia Value Chain and Operations Amino Resins at BASF, says the product has ‘a very low product carbon footprint.’

Earlier this year, Verbund put a 54MW electrolyser to work at the site to replace up to 8,000t of grey hydrogen used there.