Factbox: Germany builds up LNG import terminals

KN Energies AB

17/09/2024 14:53

(Updates with ReGas' latest moves at Mukran)
       Sept 17 (Reuters) - Germany is trying 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.
        
  
    MUKRAN
    Private company Deutsche ReGas started reloading services
from the LNG tanker Coral Energy on Sept. 17, using smaller
tankers to deliver LNG to locations without pipeline access.
    This followed the Sept. 2 opening of regular operations at
the site with FSRUs Energos Power and Neptune.
    Mukran, on Ruegen island in the Baltic Sea, will supply
onshore grids via pipeline firm Gascade's new OAL pipeline with
LNG. 
    Gascade completed the 50 km (30 miles) infrastructure in
February and feed-in is possible, with existing onshore
pipelines NEL and EUGAL offering long-distance transport.
    ReGas holds long-term supply deals with France's
TotalEnergies  TTEF.PA  and trading group MET.
    The Mukran project has triggered local opposition, but 
legal challenges to commercial operations by environmental
groups DUH and Nabu have been thrown out by German courts.
    
    LUBMIN
    ReGas and Hoegh, which runs a fleet of LNG tankers, on June
28 signed an agreement to develop a hydrogen import terminal at
the Baltic Sea port, a forerunner of operations at Mukran.
    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 LNG to Lubmin, which it
began early in 2023, in favour of Mukran.
    ReGas also plans hydrogen electrolysis plants at both Lubmin
and Mukran.
    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 raising
funds and ordering equipment 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 
($1.11 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.

    WILHELMSHAVEN
    Utility Uniper  UN01.DE  launched Germany's first FSRU
operation, Wilhelmshaven 1, in 2022.  LNG/TKUK 
    Uniper also 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 = 0.8995 euros)

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