- terranets bw completed main construction of a 14-kilometer section of its Süddeutsche Erdgasleitung (SEL) pipeline between Siegelsbach and Heilbronn, the company said.
- The section, part of a 61-kilometer segment, began construction in February 2026 and finished mid-August 2026, terranets bw stated.
- The 250-kilometer SEL pipeline is designed to be hydrogen-ready and will initially transport natural gas, according to terranets bw.
STUTTGART, Germany — terranets bw, a German gas transmission system operator, has completed the main construction phase for a 14-kilometer section of its Süddeutsche Erdgasleitung (SEL) pipeline. The segment runs between Siegelsbach, Bad Rappenau, and Heilbronn.
terranets bw said in an emailed press release today that the route construction, known as “Trassenbau,” concluded in mid-August 2026. This section is part of a larger 61-kilometer segment of the SEL pipeline between Heidelberg and Heilbronn, which began construction in August 2025 and is expected to transport gas by the end of 2026.
Construction Progress
Construction on the 14-kilometer section began in February 2026. Most of the work used an open-cut method, where pipes are laid into a trench. Crossings under roads, railway lines, and bodies of water are technically complex. These crossings are being implemented independently of the open-cut work.
The 250-kilometer SEL pipeline is designed to be hydrogen-ready. It will initially supply natural gas to modern gas power plants. The pipeline is intended to become part of Germany’s hydrogen core network, transporting hydrogen to Baden-Württemberg in the future. Construction of the SEL is proceeding in sections based on demand.
Restoration Efforts
terranets bw will restore all areas used during construction. Restoration work on the Siegelsbach to Heilbronn section will begin in spring 2027, with the exception of a two-kilometer stretch in Bad Rappenau. This work includes planting shrubs and trees and restoring roads and paths.
The company will implement compensatory measures, such as reforestation, for unavoidable impacts. All restoration work along the entire 61-kilometer section between Heidelberg and Heilbronn is expected to be completed by summer 2027.