Connecting the BMW Group’s Leipzig plant to the future hydrogen core network marks a milestone for the industrial use of hydrogen. The plant is set to become the first automotive production site in Germany capable of sourcing hydrogen directly via a pipeline—thereby laying the groundwork for CO2-reduced and sustainable production. Mannesmann Line Pipe supported the project from 2019 to 2026 with technical consulting and extensive expertise.
Hydrogen for Tomorrow's Automotive Production
Thanks to the pipeline connection, BMW will be able to use hydrogen directly at the plant in the future. Large burners in the paint shop are already designed to run on hydrogen from the pipeline as soon as it becomes available through the network. The industrial trucks at the plant are also already powered by hydrogen. So far, however, the hydrogen has been delivered by truck almost daily and stored in an above-ground cylinder storage facility. The new, secure pipeline eliminates both the logistical effort and the transportation emissions.
As early as 2013, Mannesmann Line Pipe identified hydrogen as a strategic focus area for the future and has consistently built up its expertise in this field. We applied this experience to the connection of the BMW Group plant in Leipzig and supported the project with technical, commercial, and logistical expertise from planning through delivery.
Manuel Simm | Head of the Mannesmann Line Pipe Business Unit
Mannesmann has been supporting the hydrogen ramp-up for many years. With high-quality steel pipes and engineering expertise across the entire value chain, we play a key role in making hydrogen safe, efficient, and cost-effective to use. Mannesmann pipes can be found throughout the entire value chain—from precision pipes in vehicles, to connection lines to the core network, to large-diameter pipes in the pipeline route.
Direct Industrial Applications
Mannesmann Line Pipe is also assisting Salzgitter Flachstahl with its connection to the hydrogen network. The connection between Bad Lauchstädt and Salzgitter is one of the first core sections of the ONTRAS H2 start-up network and will supply the SALCOS® program for low-CO2 steel production.