Germany builds LNG import terminals

Germany is expanding its natural gas import options as part of efforts to decarbonise and replace Russian supplies.

Here are some details about terminals that will host floating storage regasification (FSRU) units to receive LNG. There are also plans for shore-based terminals, as well as facilities to produce and import ammonia and hydrogen.

MUKRAN

On Sept. 17, the private company Deutsche ReGas began reloading LNG from the LNG tanker Coral Energy using smaller tanks to deliver LNG in areas without pipeline access.

The site was opened to regular operations on Sept. 2, with FSRUs Energos Power & Neptune.

Mukran on Ruegen Island in the Baltic Sea will supply grids onshore via Gascade's OAL pipeline.

Gascade completed its 50 km infrastructure in February. Feed-in is now possible with the existing onshore pipelines NEL & EUGAL.

ReGas has long-term supply agreements with TotalEnergies in France and the trading group MET.

German courts have dismissed legal challenges by the environmental groups DUH, Nabu and others against commercial operations.

LUBMIN

ReGas and Hoegh - which operates a fleet LNG tankers - signed an agreement on June 28, to develop a terminal for the import of hydrogen at the Baltic Sea Port, as a precursor of operations at Mukran.

The two companies plan to convert imported green ammonia into green hydrogen by 2026. This green hydrogen will be fed to Germany's hydrogen network core.

ReGas, which began importing LNG from Lubmin in early 2023, has switched to Mukran.

ReGas plans to build hydrogen electrolysis facilities at Lubmin and Mukran.

Gascade has connected the Eugal 1 and 2 gas pipelines to a green hydrogen project in Lubmin. The project is being pursued by HH2E a startup developer that is currently raising funds and purchasing equipment before final investment decisions are made.

Gascade can transport gas blends and pure hydrogen.

The Hanseatic Energy Hub had taken a final decision on investment in March for a terminal that will be built at Stade, a riverside port located along the Elbe. It is scheduled to start operations in 2027.

The FSRU Energos Force, which arrived on 15 March, is expected to continue operating until 2027 - before the onshore terminal begins operations.

Costs are expected to be around 1 billion euro ($1.11 billion) for the onshore terminal to be built by Spain’s Tecnicas Reunidas.

The gas that has arrived there is allocated to the state-controlled SEFE utility EnBW, and Czech utility CEZ.

HEH has the backing of investment firm Partners Group as well as logistics group Buss and Spanish grid operator Enagas.

WILHELMSHAVEN

Utility Uniper launched Germany’s first FSRU operations, Wilhelmshaven 1 in 2022.

Uniper plans to build a land-based terminal for ammonia and a cracker during the second half this decade.

Tree Energy Solutions (TES) plans to operate a Wilhelmshaven 2 FSRU between 2024-2027 and eventually convert their operations to clean gas.

BRUNSBUETTEL

Brunsbuettel FSRU began operations in April 2023. It was initially chartered by RWE's trading division and operated until it was transferred to the state-owned Deutsche Energy Terminal at the beginning of 2024.

The facility is a precursor to a land-based Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant that has been approved for 40 million euro of state assistance.

The terminal could begin operations by the end of 2026 when an adjacent ammonia facility could be opened.

Shell is a major investor, as are Gasunie, KfW and the state bank. $1 = 0.8995 euro (Reporting and editing by Sharon Singleton; David Holmes, Tomaszjanowski, and Sharon Singleton)

(source: Reuters)