BMW connects Leipzig plant to hydrogen core network

The car manufacturer BMW is connecting its Leipzig factory to the future hydrogen core network via a pipeline. The company announced that the factory will be the first automobile plant in the world that can be supplied with hydrogen directly via a pipeline. The approximately two kilometer long pipeline is scheduled to be completed and connected in the first half of 2028.

The nationwide hydrogen core network is currently still largely a dream of the future. By 2032, around 9,000 kilometers of lines are to be built nationwide, connecting large industrial centers, storage facilities, generation plants and import points. To this end, existing natural gas pipelines will be converted, among other things. According to the Federal Ministry of Economics, the network will be built up gradually.

BMW sees the direct connection of its Leipzig plant to the network as a contribution to decarbonization. By using hydrogen, the site's CO2 emissions could be reduced. The pipeline construction is being supported with EU and state funds.

According to its own information, the car manufacturer has been using hydrogen internally since 2013. Currently around 230 forklifts and tractors on the site are powered by fuel cells. Hydrogen has also been used in the paint shop for four years. The pipeline connection will enable use on a completely different scale in the future: in energy-intensive processes - such as the dryers in the paint shop - hydrogen could replace natural gas in the future.

According to the company, the Leipzig BMW plant currently has around 6,800 employees. They produce the BMW 1 Series, two 2 Series models and the Mini Countryman.