A development relevant to building material chemistry: BASF Construction Chemicals is testing a pilot plant for hydrogen production using Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) technology in the Ludwigshafen industrial park. Solid oxide electrolysis operates at temperatures between 700 and 850 °C and achieves efficiencies of up to 85 percent – significantly higher than alkaline electrolysis (60–70 %). For the energy-intensive production of additives, binders, and polymer components, green hydrogen could potentially replace fossil fuels in the future and significantly improve the CO₂ balance of building materials such as concrete, mortars, and coatings. The test operation is intended to provide insights into scalability and integration into existing production processes.
This article was created with AI assistance and editorially reviewed.
