Wilhelmshaven LNG terminal celebrates one year of operation

Since being commissioned on 21 December 2022, the terminal has been running almost without interruption. 42 LNG carriers have so far delivered around 7 million m³ of LNG via the FSRU Höegh Esperanza. This LNG has been converted into around 4 billion m³ of natural gas and fed into the German gas grid. Around 6% of German gas consumption in 2023 could thus be covered by the liquefied natural gas imported at this location. It is already certain that the capacities of the Höegh Esperanza will also be fully utilised for 2024.

Uniper´s Chief Operating Officer, Holger Kreetz said: "We are very proud of this terminal, which we have built in 'Deutschland-Geschwindigkeit'. Exactly one year ago, the Federal Chancellor, federal and state ministers, and hundreds of other guests opened Germany's first LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven. This year proved how much Germany needed the terminal and will continue to need it in the future. However, Uniper is also working at full steam on future green import opportunities in the form of ammonia. The region around Wilhelmshaven will be an energy hub far into the future."

Dr Peter Röttgen, Managing Director DET: "The first terminal in Germany was built in Wilhelmshaven exactly one year ago and has laid the foundation for securing the energy supply for Germany and Europe. Our partner Uniper has done a very good job here, not only in the construction but also in the management of the facility in the first year. But this pioneering work was just the beginning. With three more LNG terminals in the German North Sea, we are also contributing to the stability of the energy system."

The Uniper subsidiary LNG Terminal Wilhelmshaven GmbH (LTeW) is responsible for the operational and technical management of the terminal and acts on behalf of the federally owned Deutsche Energy Terminal GmbH (DET), which has been responsible for the operation and marketing of all LNG terminals built on the German North Sea coast on behalf of the federal government. The realisation of the LNG terminal was an important project for Uniper, even though the energy carrier LNG serves Uniper only as a transitional solution on the way to a new, CO₂-neutral energy world.

Energy Transformation Hub Northwest (ETHNw) as a building block for a climate-neutral energy supply

Uniper aims to transform its own power plants and invest in flexible power generation plants to achieve a climate-neutral energy supply in the future. In total, more than €8 billion will be invested across the Group between 2023 and 2030. At the Wilhelmshaven site and in the region, investments are being planned in projects to generate green gases and renewable energies, such as a large-scale electrolysis plant on the former power plant site in Wilhelmshaven, an ammonia import terminal near the current LNG terminal as well as solar and wind power plants. These large-scale projects are part of Uniper's ETHNw initiative, which also includes other electrolysis plants, renewable energy projects and H2 storage projects in Conneforde, Elsfleth, Etzel, Huntorf, Krummhörn and Wilhelmshaven. In addition, solar parks with a capacity of around 300 MW are to be built in Elsfleth and around 17 MW in Wilhelmshaven. The development of the sites is just as much a focus as the training of skilled workers. All projects will be of fundamental importance in making the northwest of Germany a national energy hub.

Read the article online at: https://www.tanksterminals.com/terminals/18122023/wilhelmshaven-lng-terminal-reflects-on-one-year-of-operation/