As part of the major infrastructure project Süddeutsche Erdgasleitung (SEL), the joint venture ARGE SEL 01 / DN 1200 contributes to a secure energy supply in southern Germany while paving the way for the future use of hydrogen as an energy carrier.
Project overview: Süddeutsche Erdgasleitung and the energy transition
The project comprised the laying of a 24-kilometre section of the Süddeutsche Erdgasleitung, which extends over a total length of 250 kilometres. The pipeline runs through the state of Baden-Württemberg and is designed to transport not only natural gas but also hydrogen from around 2030. This makes the SEL an important building block of the energy transition, as it promotes a CO₂-neutral energy supply for the region and the phase-out of coal-fired power generation.
Customer and partners: Implementation of the Süddeutsche Erdgasleitung
The project was carried out jointly by several renowned companies: PPS Pipeline Systems GmbH, FRIEDRICH VORWERK Group SE, HABAU Hoch- und Tiefbaugesellschaft m.b.H. and Bohlen & Doyen Bau GmbH. With their expertise and many years of experience, these companies completed the section successfully.
Construction period: In operation since December 2024
The 24-kilometre first section of the SEL between Heilbronn and Löchgau was built in around nine months and has been transporting gas since December 2024. By December 2025, Terranets BW had restored the entire route – the agricultural land was already returned to the farmers in mid-2025.
Products and technology: Materials and machines for the pipeline
Various specialised products and machines were used to lay the pipes, meeting the high requirements for safety and efficiency:
- Pipeline lifting belt for safe and gentle laying
- Pipe night caps to protect the pipe ends
- External line-up clamps for precise alignment of the pipes
- Pipeline wheel brushes for surface treatment
- Crawler dumpers from Morooka and Hitachi for efficient material handling
These high-quality products and machines enabled fast and safe laying of the pipeline.
Services provided by Pipeline Equipment
Pipeline Equipment provided comprehensive support in this project in the form of:
- Consulting and tool planning: We provided advice as early as the planning phase to determine the optimal equipment for the construction site.
- Maintenance and on-site replacement service: A maintenance and replacement service ensured that tools and machines were always ready for use and could be replaced directly on site if required.
Conclusion: ARGE SEL 01 successfully completed
The ARGE SEL 01 / DN 1200 project was successfully completed: gas has been flowing through the first section of the Süddeutsche Erdgasleitung since December 2024. From the 2030s, the pipeline is to transport hydrogen, supporting the energy transition in Baden-Württemberg. Thanks to good planning, high-quality materials and the support of Pipeline Equipment, construction went without major problems. Work is now continuing – and Pipeline Equipment is once again involved in the Heidelberg–Heilbronn section.
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