BASF, SABIC, and Linde have started construction of the first demonstration plant in the world for large-scale electrically heated steam cracker furnaces. Using electricity from renewable sources, this new technology has the potential to decrease carbon dioxide emissions of one of the production processes in the chemical industry by around 90 percent compared to commonly used technologies.
This demonstration plant will be fully integrated into one of the existing steam crackers at BASF’s Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. The plant will also have two different heating concepts, each processing around 4 tons of hydrocarbons per hour, and consuming 6 megawatts of renewable energy.
Both SABIC and BASF are investing in the project, and the demonstration plan will be operated by BASF. Linde is the procurement, engineering, and construction partner for the project and will commercialize the developed technologies in the future.
Dr. Martin Brudermuller, chairman of the board of executive directors of BASF SE, said they are proud that BASF has been granted project funding by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of Germany, as it is a testament to the support for their approach in the future.
Yousef AI-Benyan, CEO and Vice-Chairman of SABIC, said this new project holds large potential for all of the petrochemical industry across the world in their drive for low carbon emitting processes, and they hope that this partnership can inspire many more collaborations.
Jurgen Nowicki, executive vice president Linde plc, and CEO of Linde Engineering, said this project shows how global companies can successfully partner by integrating their expertise in technology development, procurement, engineering, and construction execution and operation.
