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Leipzig's BMW Plant Set To Make History With Hydrogen Pipeline
Photo credit: BMW
The BMW Group Plant Leipzig is making a landmark move that could revolutionize how car factories power their operations. They've just signed contracts to build a dedicated hydrogen pipeline link, positioning the facility to become the first car plant in the world to receive its hydrogen via a pipeline.
This development is a significant step in the plant’s push for
sustainable, cutting-edge energy use.
Transitioning from Trucks to a Dedicated Link
Currently, the plant receives its hydrogen delivered by truck in cylinders. This process is set to be replaced by a more efficient, direct supply.
The contracts were established with MITNETZ GAS GmbH and ONTRAS Gastransport GmbH to construct the approximately 2-kilometre-long link. MITNETZ GAS will be responsible for building the pipeline and the necessary gas pressure and measurement system, connecting the plant directly to Germany's future core hydrogen network. BMW and ONTRAS are in the process of finalizing the specific connection to the hydrogen grid.
Hydrogen is expected to start flowing into the plant by mid-2027.
Petra Peterhänsel, Director of BMW Group Plant Leipzig, noted that switching to a pipeline supply allows for completely new applications of hydrogen, particularly for the most energy-intensive processes, such as the curing ovens in the paintshop.
Building on a Hydrogen Legacy
This pipeline project is the latest in a series of hydrogen-related innovations at the Leipzig plant.
In 2022, the facility introduced a fuel-flexible burner in its paintshop, which was a world first in automotive production. Today, the plant operates eleven of these bivalent burners, which can switch flexibly between gas and hydrogen for power.
Furthermore, since 2013, Leipzig has established Europe's largest fleet of hydrogen fuel cell-powered intralogistics vehicles, comprising over 230 forklifts and tug trains that refuel at nine stations within the plant's halls.
The new pipeline will eventually integrate the plant into the larger, nationwide core hydrogen network, an infrastructure project totaling roughly 9,000 kilometres of pipeline. This network will come online in stages, reaching full operation by 2032 and linking Germany to the broader transregional hydrogen infrastructure. BMW Leipzig is clearly doubling down on hydrogen, setting a new global standard for efficient and sustainable manufacturing.
This development is a significant step in the plant’s push for
sustainable, cutting-edge energy use.
Transitioning from Trucks to a Dedicated Link
Currently, the plant receives its hydrogen delivered by truck in cylinders. This process is set to be replaced by a more efficient, direct supply.
The contracts were established with MITNETZ GAS GmbH and ONTRAS Gastransport GmbH to construct the approximately 2-kilometre-long link. MITNETZ GAS will be responsible for building the pipeline and the necessary gas pressure and measurement system, connecting the plant directly to Germany's future core hydrogen network. BMW and ONTRAS are in the process of finalizing the specific connection to the hydrogen grid.
Hydrogen is expected to start flowing into the plant by mid-2027.
Petra Peterhänsel, Director of BMW Group Plant Leipzig, noted that switching to a pipeline supply allows for completely new applications of hydrogen, particularly for the most energy-intensive processes, such as the curing ovens in the paintshop.
Building on a Hydrogen Legacy
This pipeline project is the latest in a series of hydrogen-related innovations at the Leipzig plant.
In 2022, the facility introduced a fuel-flexible burner in its paintshop, which was a world first in automotive production. Today, the plant operates eleven of these bivalent burners, which can switch flexibly between gas and hydrogen for power.
Furthermore, since 2013, Leipzig has established Europe's largest fleet of hydrogen fuel cell-powered intralogistics vehicles, comprising over 230 forklifts and tug trains that refuel at nine stations within the plant's halls.
The new pipeline will eventually integrate the plant into the larger, nationwide core hydrogen network, an infrastructure project totaling roughly 9,000 kilometres of pipeline. This network will come online in stages, reaching full operation by 2032 and linking Germany to the broader transregional hydrogen infrastructure. BMW Leipzig is clearly doubling down on hydrogen, setting a new global standard for efficient and sustainable manufacturing.
Oct 2, 2025
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