Gloggnitz, Austria, 30.09.2025
With a ceremonial groundbreaking, BASF has officially launched construction of one of the world’s most powerful industrial-scale heat pumps at its Ludwigshafen site in Germany. At BASF’s invitation, GIG Karasek attended the event on-site as the EPC partner. Held in the presence of representatives from industry and government, the ceremony marked a major milestone in the transition toward sustainable energy supply and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the process industry. Start-up is scheduled for mid-2027.
“The electrification of pivotal production processes and of energy generation is a key component for the chemical industry in achieving climate neutrality. In our gas and steam power plants, emission-free steam from the heat pump will now partially replace conventionally generated steam derived from fossil fuels,” says Helmut Winterling, President European Verbund Sites, BASF SE. “Our goal is to offer our customers products that have a lower carbon footprint. We achieve this both through biomass balance methods and through targeted investments in green technologies such as heat pumps.”
Helmut Winterling, President European Verbund Sites, BASF SE
Photo: BASF/Andreas Henn
As EPC contractor, GIG Karasek is responsible for the design, delivery, and implementation of the heat pump system. The groundbreaking ceremony was a special moment for Managing Directors Julia Aichhorn and Andreas Schnitzhofer.
“I’m convinced that the BASF Ludwigshafen flagship project will set new standards far beyond this site. It demonstrates that industrial waste heat is not a byproduct, but a valuable energy source for the future,” says Julia Aichhorn, Managing Director of GIG Karasek and owner of the Dr. Aichhorn Group.
“Waste heat recovery is a game changer for CO₂ reduction – yet its potential remains vastly underutilized. With the construction of this large-scale heat pump and pioneers like BASF, we’re showing what’s truly possible,” says Andreas Schnitzhofer, Managing Director of GIG Karasek.
Julia Aichhorn, Managing Director of GIG Karasek and owner of the Dr. Aichhorn Group, with Andreas Schnitzhofer, Managing Director of GIG Karasek.
Photo: BASF/Andreas Henn
Technology overview
With its CompriVAP technology, GIG Karasek delivers an integrated heat pump system that combines proven components into a high-performance solution. The concept is based on Mechanical Vapor Recompression (MVR): steam is compressed using electrically driven compressors to raise it to a higher energy level, then made available as process heat. At the heart of the system is an 11-stage system featuring high-performance compressors.
With the groundbreaking, BASF is sending a clear message: the industrial heat transition is achievable. As a technology and execution partner, GIG Karasek is providing the foundation for one of the most important steps on this path.
Contact us to learn more: presse.gigkarasek@gigkarasek.at
(f.l.t.r.): Alexander Fronz, Project Manager Heat Pump, BASF SE, Christian Aucoin, President Global Engineering Services, BASF SE, Julia Aichhorn, General Manager GIG Karasek, Helmut Winterling, President European Verbund Sites, BASF SE, Peter Menck, Head of the Department for Funding Programs for the Decarbonization of Industry and for Climate Protection Agreements at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Andreas Schnitzhofer, General Manager GIG Karasek, Tim Lerch, Project Execution Owner Heat Pump, BASF SE.
Photo: BASF/Andreas Henn