[World’s first] BMW Group advances plans to connect hydrogen pipeline to Leipzig plant

Once the pipeline is in place, the Leipzig plant will no longer need trucks to deliver hydrogen in cylinders. “Pipeline supply will enable us to use hydrogen in entirely new ways, particularly in our most energy-intensive processes, such as the paint shop curing ovens,” says Petra Peter-Hansel, head of BMW Group Leipzig Plant.

In October 2022, the Leipzig plant installed a dual-fuel burner in its paint shop – another world first in automotive production. The plant currently operates a total of 11 dual-fuel burners that can switch between gas and hydrogen. In 2013, the plant also introduced hydrogen fuel cell forklifts and towing vehicles. The plant now operates Europe’s largest internal logistics fleet of more than 230 vehicles. These vehicles are refueled at nine hydrogen filling stations located within the plant building.

The core hydrogen network is a nationwide infrastructure project consisting of around 9,000 kilometers of hydrogen pipelines that will be commissioned in stages and reach full operation by 2032, connecting Germany to a regional hydrogen network.