BASF and RWE to develop 2 GW Offshore wind farm in Germany

German multinational chemical company BASF Group and energy developer RWE are partnering to build an 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.

This will involve utilizing CO₂-free technologies such as electrically heated steam cracker furnaces to produce petrochemicals. Both companies 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.

Markus Krebber, CEO of RWE, said: “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".

These 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 at BASF in Ludwigshafen. It shows very clearly how climate protection and competitiveness can be harmonized in the chemical industry. No public subsidies would be needed for the construction of the wind farm.