Our Pipeline
For Germany and Europe

NEL connects the Greifswald/Lubmin site on the Baltic Sea with the pipeline network in Lower Saxony at the Rehden hub. It is also linked to the EUGAL (European Gas Pipeline Link) , so that gas can flow both to the west and to the south. From Greifswald/Lubmin, the 442-kilometre-long pipeline first heads south-westwards towards the Mecklenburg Lake District.

Between Güstrow and Teterow, it then continues in the direction of Schwerin before crossing the Elbe at Hittbergen near Lauenburg. South of Hamburg, NEL passes the catchment area of the town of Winsen on the River Luhe. From Seevetal, the pipeline first passes through the Nordheide parallel to the A1 as far as Achim near Bremen. Finally, after passing through the moor landscape near Syke and Bassum, it reaches Rehden (near Vechta), where the natural gas will be either stored or fed into the existing natural gas pipeline network.

Since complete commercial operation from 1 November 2013 on, more than 20 billion cubic metres of natural gas a year will flow through NEL.

NEL Gastransport GmbH in Kassel is responsible for the operational management of the pipeline. It works together with GASCADE Gastransport GmbH and Gasunie Deutschland GmbH.

A major infrastructure project is taking shape near Wittenburg, southwest of Schwerin: the Wittenburg Compressor Station. It will be built east of the L 04 road near Bobzin and is designed to specifically increase the transport capacity of the NEL. In doing so, it will play a key role in ensuring a secure energy supply during the development of a hydrogen core network—since existing gas pipelines will gradually be repurposed to carry hydrogen and will no longer be available for natural gas transport. To continue to ensure the security of natural gas supplies, the construction of an additional compressor station is necessary.

Environmental compatibility is a central focus of this construction project: the station is planned with three electrically powered compressors, enabling extremely low-emission operation. In addition, the noise-reducing design of the compressor halls helps to minimize impact on the surrounding area.

The project is currently in the planning phase. The aim is to start setting up the construction site in early 2026 and to commission the compressor station by the end of 2028.

Transparency is important to us – that is why we are providing you with all the important information about the project, the technology, the construction phases, ecology and agriculture on a series of informative posters.

Please take a closer look (Posters in German language version).