Factbox: Germany builds up LNG import terminals

KN Energies AB

03/07/2024 10:28

(Updating with ReGas' latest move at Lubmin and inauguration of
Stade's landside reception terminal)
       July 3 (Reuters) - Germany is looking to expand its
natural gas import options to replace Russian supply and as part
of its decarbonisation efforts.
    Below are details on terminals being developed to host
floating storage regasification units (FSRUs) to receive
liquefied natural gas (LNG). Plans also include shore-based
regasification terminals and facilities to import and produce
ammonia and hydrogen.
        
  
    LUBMIN
        Deutsche ReGas and Hoegh, which runs a fleet of LNG
tankers, on June 28 signed an agreement to develop a hydrogen
import terminal at the eastern German Baltic Sea port.
  
        From 2026, the two plan to operate a conversion process
from cracking imported green ammonia to producing green hydrogen
to be fed into Germany's hydrogen core network.
  
    ReGas has ended shuttling imported natural gas to Lubmin,
which it began early in 2023, in favour of its new LNG
regasification operations at the Mukran terminal on nearby
Ruegen island.
    ReGas also plans hydrogen electrolysis plants at both Lubmin
and Mukran.
    Pipeline firm Gascade has created a grid connection to the
Eugal 1 and 2 onshore gas pipelines for a green hydrogen
production project at Lubmin, pursued by startup developer HH2E,
 which is engaged in fundraising ahead of final investment
decisions. 
    Gascade will be able to transport both gas and hydrogen
blends.
    
    STADE
        On June 28, developers at the Elbe river port of Stade
formally 
    inaugurated
     a land-based "ammonia ready" terminal for start in 2027,
for which a final investment decision had been taken by
Hanseatic Energy Hub (HEH) in March.
        The FSRU Energos Force arrived on March 15, expected to
operate until 2027, ahead of the onshore terminal starting
operations.
    The onshore terminal, to be built by Spain's Tecnicas
Reunidas  TRE.MC , is expected to cost around 1 billion euros
($1 billion). 
    Gas to arrive there has been allocated to state-controlled
SEFE, utility EnBW  EBKG.DE  and Czech utility CEZ  CEZP.PR .
    HEH is backed by investment firm Partners Group  PGHN.S ,
logistics group Buss, chemicals company Dow  DOW.N  and Spanish
grid operator Enagas.

    MUKRAN
    ReGas is testing the FSRUs Energos Power and Neptune, so
that both can deliver gas to the mainland.
    Mukran will supply onshore grids via Gascade's new OAL
pipeline. Gascade completed the 50 km (30 miles) infrastructure
in February and feed-in is possible.
    ReGas holds long-term supply deals with France's
TotalEnergies  TTEF.PA  and trading group MET.
    The Mukran project has triggered local opposition. 
    Legal challenges to commercial operations by environmental
groups DUH and Nabu have been thrown out by German courts.
   
    WILHELMSHAVEN
    Utility Uniper  UN01.DE  launched Germany's first FSRU
operation, Wilhelmshaven 1, in 2022.  LNG/TKUK 
    Further ahead, Uniper plans to add a land-based ammonia
reception terminal and cracker in the second half of this
decade. 
    Another operator, Tree Energy Solutions (TES), plans to
operate a second FSRU, Wilhelmshaven 2, between 2024 and 2027,
and plans to eventually convert its operations to clean gases.
    
    BRUNSBUETTEL
    The Brunsbuettel FSRU went into operation in April 2023,
initially chartered and operated by utility RWE's  RWEG.DE 
trading arm before it was handed over to state-owned Deutsche
Energy Terminal (DET) at the start of 2024.
    It is the forerunner of a land-based LNG facility which has
been cleared to receive 40 million euros of state support.
    It could start operations at the end of 2026, when an
adjacent ammonia terminal could also start up.
    State bank KfW, Gasunie and RWE are stakeholders and Shell
 SHEL.L  has committed to sizeable purchases.
    
    ($1 = 0.9323 euros)

 (Reporting by Vera Eckert; Editing by Sharon Singleton and
David Holmes)
 ((vera.eckert@thomsonreuters.com; +49 30 2201 33654;
@EckertVera;))