BASF Catalysts offers exceptional expertise in the development of technologies that protect the air we breathe, produce the fuels that power our world and ensure efficient production of a wide variety of chemicals, plastics and other products including advanced battery materials. BASF’s Catalysts division is the world’s leading supplier of environmental and process catalysts. The group offers exceptional expertise in the development of technologies that protect the air we breathe, produce the fuels that power our world and ensure efficient production of a wide variety of chemicals, plastics and other products, including advanced battery materials. We believe mobility’s future lies in more than just products. So where others come to a full stop, we’re just getting started—by leveraging the full power of BASF to continually advance our comprehensive package of sustainable solutions that enable us to travel further, as well as above and beyond. A leading supplier of high performance cathode active materials (CAM) for electrified vehicles to battery producers and automotive OEMs around the world. Protecting the air we breathe from harmful emissions through innovation. BASF leverages unsurpassed expertise in the development of emission control technologies for a wide range of market applications. BASF is committed to advancing and promoting environmentally-sound technologies to achieve a sustainable future in aviation. Offering 50 years of experience developing intelligent solutions for air quality over a wide range of applications — enabling clean air for a healthier, more sustainable future. As the global leader in chemical catalysts, BASF develops cutting-edge catalyst chemistry with our customers’ needs in mind. We want to contribute to a world that provides a viable future with enhanced quality of life for everyone. We do so by creating chemistry for our customers and society and by making the best use of available resources. BASF offers the widest portfolio of adsorbent technologies for a broad spectrum of applications in industries such as refining, petrochemical, chemical, and gas processing. Syngas, produced from natural gas or coal, is a key intermediate in the emerging technologies for gas-to-liquids (GTL), methanol-to-olefins, coal-to-liquids and fuel cells. At BASF, our Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) catalyst and additive offerings together with our expert technical services build the right solution to create value within any unit’s constraints. Paving the way toward a brighter, more secure future. Manufacturing products for sustainable solutions, reducing emissions from our processes, and using non-fossil fueled energy sources – all of these efforts help lead BASF on a continuing journey of sustainability. BASF Natural Gas experts have a diverse portfolio of products to custom design a solution and help you meet your Natural Gas treatment needs. BASF has been serving the natural gas treatment market for over 60 years. Innovative, step-change technology with dual-purpose performance: removal of heavy hydrocarbons and water to cryogenic specifications in a single unit. With more than 150 years of experience in metal sourcing, trading, and hedging, we’ve built tangible results for our industrial customers. With more than 100 years of experience in recycling materials, BASF’s end-to-end recycling program is known and trusted around the globe. As a leader in precious-metal thermocouples for many years, BASF recently applied its technological expertise to optical-based temperature measurement. Developing and producing pharmaceutical ingredients for more than 75 years, enabling us to provide the solutions you need to meet today's and tomorrow's challenges for your pharmaceutical business. Find the latest news and media information for BASF’s Catalysts division, headquartered in Iselin, New Jersey, USA, the world’s leading supplier of environmental and process catalysts. Explore this collection of resources to learn more about our innovative research and Catalyst solutions.
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Groundbreaking for cathode active materials production plant in Schwarzheide, Germany

  • Construction of the new plant already started with start-up scheduled for 2022 to supply around 400,000 full electric vehicles per year
  • Peter Altmaier, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy: “Investment is major step for Germany and Schwarzheide”

BASF has broken ground for its new cathode active materials production plant in Schwarzheide, Germany. In an online event, the company celebrated this milestone together with customers, politicians and partners. The new plant is part of BASF’s multi-step investment plan in the European battery materials market and will use precursors from the company’s previously announced plant in Harjavalta, Finland. Construction has already started in August in Schwarzheide and the plant is scheduled for a 2022 start-up.

This new plant for cathode active materials will be equipped with world leading process technology and enable the supply of around 400,000 full electric vehicles per year with BASF battery materials. BASF’s innovative cathode materials increase the performance of batteries, promoting the success of climate-friendly mobility.

“We support our customers and want to capture the growth opportunity in the fast-growing electric mobility market with our investments in battery materials in Europe,” said Dr. Martin Brudermüller, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE. “Electromobility is one of the key solutions to unite the global desire for individual mobility and the need to significantly reduce local emissions. BASF is driving sustainable electromobility with innovative battery materials and state-of the art technology,” Brudermüller said.

Peter Altmaier, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, said: “BASF’s groundbreaking ceremony today marks a further step in the right direction for Germany’s industrial sector and the establishment of a European value chain for electric mobility. We aim to produce the world’s best-quality and best-performing batteries in Germany and Europe. We are therefore backing the expansion of battery manufacturing which uses the latest and most environmentally friendly materials. Specifically, the Federal Government and the Land are providing approximately €175 million towards BASF’s project. I am delighted that BASF aims to set new standards in Schwarzheide and create forward-looking jobs which will contribute to successful structural change in the region.”

European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič emphasized the importance of creating a competitive and sustainable battery cell manufacturing value chain in Europe: “The battery value chain is of strategic importance for Europe’s resilience, particularly with respect to clean, sustainable mobility. This is even more critical as we seek to jumpstart our economies, while accelerating the green transition. I am pleased that our focus on scaling up innovation under the European Battery Alliance is yielding strong industrial projects like the BASF investment. Building a competitive, innovative and sustainable battery ecosystem in Europe will also help protect millions of jobs in European industries in the face of tougher global competition.”

Dr. Dietmar Woidke, Minister President of the State of Brandenburg, said: “Industrial jobs, economic growth and climate protection: At BASF in Schwarzheide, these go together perfectly. The investment decision amidst severe structural transformation processes in the Lusatia region is nothing less than a milestone. The construction of the factory for battery materials is a further important step on Lusatia’s road towards an innovative industrial region. It will secure high-quality jobs and offer good prospects for young professionals. BASF is continuing to drive forward its investment projects with patience and perseverance, even in difficult times. The state government will gladly continue to support them in their endeavor.”

BASF is committed to provide a reliable and sustainable local supply of high-energy density cathode active materials to cell producers and automotive customers meeting their specific needs in Europe.

“The new plant together with the precursor plant in Harjavalta will use efficient manufacturing processes, a high share of renewable energy, upstream integration into the key raw materials like cobalt and nickel, and a short transportation route along the value chain. These measures will lead to a 30% lower CO2 footprint compared to the conventional industry standard,” said Dr. Peter Schuhmacher, President, Catalysts division at BASF. He added: “With efforts on recycling, we aim to ‘close the loop’ while reducing the CO2 footprint of our cathode active materials by up to 60% in total.”

“I am delighted that customers, politicians and partners can participate virtually in the groundbreaking event for the new battery materials plant at our site in Schwarzheide,” said Jürgen Fuchs, Managing Director of BASF Schwarzheide GmbH. “The new plant is already well under construction and will expand our product portfolio at the site, creating around 150 new jobs after its start-up in 2022. In this way, the investment is positively shaping the structural change in the Lusatia region. This is truly a moment to celebrate and remember.”

The investment in Schwarzheide reinforces BASF’s support of the European Commission’s agenda towards a European battery production value chain and is part of the “Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI)” approved by the European Commission on December 9, 2019, under the European Union State aid rules. The launch of innovative battery materials from the Schwarzheide plant and research to develop next-generation battery materials and process development, including battery recycling, is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy on the basis of a resolution of the German Bundestag and by the Ministry of Economics, Labor and Energy of the State of Brandenburg on the basis of a resolution of the Brandenburg State Parliament as part of the IPCEI for Batteries: Funding codes 16BZF101A/B.

You will find more information about the event, the plant in Schwarzheide and latest photos here.

To learn more about BASF Battery Materials and BASF’s commitment to e-mobility, visit our website:

https://catalysts.basf.com/products-and-industries/battery-materials

You can find TV footage and additional photo material of BASF’s battery material research and production sites in our TV-service and photo pool (please choose “battery” as search term).

Christine Haupt

Media Relations

BASF SE

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Sophie Lyu

Trade Media

BASF

+86 21 2039-3252

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Arne Petersen

Schwarzheide Local Media

BASF SE

+49 35752 6-2211

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Dr. Beate Baron

Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy Press Office - Head of Unit

http://www.bmwi.de

+49 30 18615-7667

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Florian Engels

State Chancellery of the Federal State of Brandenburg, Media Office

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Renáta Goldírová

European Commission, Interinstitutional Affairs and Foresight, Communications

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P359e Groundbreaking for cathode active materials production plant in Schwarzheide, Germany

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P359 Spatenstich für BASF-Anlage für Kathodenmaterialien in Schwarzheide

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BASF Catalysts | Schwarzheide Groundbreaking

(EN) BASF has broken ground for its new cathode active materials production plant in Schwarzheide, Germany. In an online event the company celebrated this milestone together with customers, politicians and partners.

(DE) BASF hat den ersten Spatenstich für ihre neue Produktionsanlage für Kathodenmaterialien in Schwarzheide, Deutschland, vorgenommen. In einer Online-Veranstaltung feierte das Unternehmen diesen Meilenstein gemeinsam mit Kunden, Politikern und Partnern.

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BASF Catalysts | Schwarzheide Groundbreaking

(EN) In August 2020, construction work started on the new cathode materials plant in Schwarzheide, Germany. The integration of renewable energies is planned until the plant is commissioned in 2022.

(DE) Im August 2020 starteten die Bauarbeiten für die neue Anlage für Kathodenmaterialien in Schwarzheide. Bis zur Inbetriebnahme der Anlage für Batteriematerialien im Jahr 2022 ist die Integration erneuerbarer Energien geplant.

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BASF Catalysts | Schwarzheide Plant

(EN) The Schwarzheide plant’s modular design allows for the rapid scale-up of manufacturing capacities.

(DE) Der modulare Aufbau der geplanten BASF-Anlage für Kathodenmaterialien in Schwarzheide erlaubt einen schnellen Ausbau der Produktionskapazitäten.

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