Page 154 - CW E-Magazine (30-7-2024)

News from Abroad

NEW FACILITY
BASF unit breaks ground on green hydrogen, fuel

cell component facility

BASF Environmental Catalyst and
Metal Solutions (ECMS) has com-
menced construction of its first pro-
duction facility for green hydrogen and
fuel cell components in Budenheim,
Germany, near Frankfurt.

The products produced at this site
will include newly developed low-iri-
dium-loaded catalyst coated mem-
branes (CCMs), a key functional part
for proton exchange membrane (PEM)
water electrolysis. This will comple-
ment the Celtec membrane electrode lysers with multi-gigawatt capacity to and reduce costs for PEM electrolysers
assemblies (MEAs) for high-tempera- serve the global market. This invest- and fuel cells.”
ture fuel cells, which will also be pro- ment allows ECMS to expand its capa-
duced at the facility. MEAs are critical bilities in precious metals, catalysts and “Our new products have progressed
components in fuel cells that enable recycling, positioning itself as an inte- successfully from R&D into pilot scale.
hydrogen together with oxygen from grated, full-loop, end-to-end solution Production in Budenheim signifies a
the air to be converted efficiently into provider across a range of product lines major milestone for the market intro-
electricity. in the green hydrogen space. duction of these products and positions
us in a strong place to leverage this
The ECMS hydrogen business ope- “This new site in Budenheim ful- sizeable business opportunity,” said
rates globally, with activities in Europe, fils a key part of our global strategy Mr. Saeed Alerasool, Senior Vice President
North America and Asia. As the renew for hydrogen,” said Mr. Tim Ingle, R&D and Application for ECMS.
able energy ecosystem develops rapidly, Senior Vice President of Precious
the production of green hydrogen Metal Services and Recycling for ECMS. The opening of the Budenheim site
from water electrolysis will become a “As a global leader in precious metals is planned for the summer of 2025. The
crucial pillar in supporting the global services and catalyst recycling, the project is being developed with Trigona
energy transition. The new facility will investment solidifies our support for the Fuel Cell Components GmbH and
enable the commercial launch of newly growing hydrogen economy with circu- Grundstücksverwaltung Rheinufer
developed CCMs for PEM electro- lar solutions that improve performance GmbH & Co. KG.

PROJECT UPDATE
Rock Tech selects Worley as EPCM partner for German

lithium hydroxide facility

Canada’s Rock Tech Lithium has make battery-grade, high-purity lithium of complex industrial plants and has
selected global professional services hydroxide, and touted to be Europe’s completed more than 1,000 projects in
company Worley as its preferred engi- “first lithium converter”. the chemical and resources industries
neering, procurement, and construction across all continents.
management (EPCM) partner for the Worley specialises in engineer-
construction of a German facility to ing, construction and implementation “To date, lithium converters have

154 Chemical Weekly July 30, 2024

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