South German natural gas pipeline (SEL)
6. February 2026
Hydrogen pipeline from Lampertheim to Ludwigshafen am Rhein
HYLU stands for HY for hydrogen and LU for Ludwigshafen. The name illustrates the purpose of the project – the transport of hydrogen – and also refers to the important consumption region around Ludwigshafen am Rhein.
GASCADE is planning to build and operate a new hydrogen pipeline from Lampertheim to Ludwigshafen am Rhein. The approximately 15-kilometre pipeline is part of the German hydrogen core network and is scheduled to go into operation by the end of 2029. It will be used to receive hydrogen from the future hydrogen-carrying southern section of the existing MIDAL pipeline and transport it onwards towards Frankenthal/Ludwigshafen am Rhein.
HYLU will therefore make an important contribution to the development of an efficient hydrogen infrastructure in the Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region. The region is characterised by energy-intensive industry, existing infrastructure corridors and key network nodes. HYLU will create an early link between existing pipelines converted to hydrogen transport, new hydrogen pipelines, and future consumers and hydrogen producers. HYLU is being implemented as part of “Flow – making hydrogen happen”, the infrastructure programme that is significantly advancing the development of an efficient hydrogen supply.
A key starting point for the project is the existing Lampertheim energy hub. The necessary conditions are to be created there in order to connect further hydrogen pipeline systems, regional suppliers and, in future, a hydrogen pressure regulating and metering station. Planned stations in Lampertheim, Frankenthal and Ludwigshafen will technically safeguard the pipeline for future hydrogen transport.
Technical data and project schedule
- Project name: HYLU
- Route: from Lampertheim to Ludwigshafen am Rhein
- Length: approx. 15 km
- Diameter: DN 800
- Approval: three planning approval procedures pursuant to Section 43 EnWG, one for each federal state affected
- Starting point: existing GASCADE energy hub in Lampertheim
- End point: planned Ludwigshafen am Rhein station on the BASF plant premises
- Planned commissioning: December 2029
Pipeline route
- Federal States
- Hesse
- Baden-Wuerttemberg
- Rhineland-Palatinate
- Municipalities/cities
- Lampertheim
- Mannheim
- Bobenheim-Roxheim, Frankenthal, Ludwigshafen am Rhein
- Route alignment
- The pipeline will mainly run parallel to existing or planned infrastructure, including the MIDAL pipeline, federal road B 9, the planned Amprion power line and other transport routes. The River Rhine federal waterway is expected to be crossed between Mannheim in Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bobenheim-Roxheim in Rhineland-Palatinate using an underground pipe jacking method.
Press Information
