(Leipzig / Germany) – The Leipzig plant of automaker BMW is to be connected to a hydrogen pipeline, becoming the "world's first automotive production site" to do so. A contractual agreement to this effect has now been signed with the regional gas supplier Mitteldeutsche Netzgesellschaft Gas mbH (Mitnetz Gas) and the long-distance pipeline operator Ontras Gastransport GmbH.
The BMW Group has commissioned Mitnetz Gas and Ontras to connect the BMW Leipzig plant to a hydrogen pipeline (from left): Petra Peterhänsel (Plant Manager), Christian Rosin (Head of Implementation/Operations Mitnetz Gas), Ralph Bahke (Managing Director of Control and Development at Ontras Gastransport). © BMW Group
The existing natural gas pipeline will be converted to hydrogen, and a new pipeline route will be built for natural gas. Both gases could be transported via separate systems in the future. Mitnetz Gas will install a roughly two-kilometer-long connection from the plant to the Ontras H2 start-up network and to the future hydrogen core network, including a gas pressure regulation and metering system. The subsidiary of Mitteldeutsche Gasversorgung GmbH (Mitgas) is responsible for the complete planning, delivery, construction, and commissioning of the entire plant. Supply to the plant is scheduled to begin in mid-2027, replacing hydrogen delivery by truck in pressurized cylinders.
BMW also plans to convert its in-house forklifts at the Regensburg plant from battery to hydrogen drive. © BMW Group
Since 2013, forklifts and tugger tractors powered by fuel cells have been used in Leipzig's internal logistics. The fleet now comprises over 230 such vehicles, which are refueled with hydrogen at nine stations in the factory halls. BMW also plans to convert the logistics fleet at other plants from batteries to hydrogen by 2030, for example, in Regensburg. To ensure a comprehensive hydrogen supply, the company announced in November of last year that it will install a two-kilometer pipeline network and six decentralized refueling stations there by the beginning of 2026.
Paint shop with bivalent burners
In October 2022, a bivalent burner was put into operation in the paint shop at the Leipzig factory – now there are eleven. These can flexibly burn natural gas or hydrogen. Thanks to the pipeline connection, "we will be able to use hydrogen in completely new dimensions in the future," says plant manager Petra Peterhänsel. "This applies especially to our energy-intensive processes, such as the dryers in the paint shop."
As part of the Germany-wide hydrogen core network, Ontras' H2 start-up network connects the industrial locations of Berlin, Leipzig, Magdeburg, Salzgitter and Central Saxony with producers, import points and storage facilities throughout Germany.
Photo above
The BMW factory in Leipzig has been using bivalent burners with natural gas and hydrogen in its paint shop since 2022. Until now, the energy source was delivered by trailer, but a pipeline is planned soon. © BMW Group
