LNG Facility in Wilhelmshaven Begins Operations for Second Terminal - Operational Status of the Second LNG Terminal in Wilhelmshaven Now Active
Second LNG Terminal in Wilhelmshaven Begins Operations, Boosting Germany's Energy Security
The second floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Wilhelmshaven has commenced operations, bolstering energy security in Germany. On Friday, the terminal was officially inaugurated in the presence of Lower Saxony's Minister of Economics, Grant Hendrik Tonne (SPD), and Minister of the Environment, Christian Meyer (Greens).
Peter Röttgen, CEO of the state-owned Deutsche Energy Terminal Gesellschaft (DET), announced the arrival of the first LNG shipment on Friday, which was subsequently processed and fed into the German gas network. The terminal vessel, the "Excelsior," will convert this liquefied gas, chilled to minus 162 degrees, back into its gaseous state by heating it with seawater on board. The gaseous LNG will then be transported ashore.
The addition of the "Excelsior" marks a significant step forward in Germany's energy supply, according to Minister Tonne. With this new terminal, energy security in Germany will be further enhanced.
The "Excelsior" joins the first terminal ship, the "Hoëgh Esperanza," which went into operation at the end of 2022. Together with the terminals in Brunsbüttel and the privately operated terminal in Mukran on Rügen, the "Excelsior" forms the fourth LNG terminal in Germany. The fifth terminal in Stade has faced delays in its start-up.
Federal Minister of Economics, Katherina Reiche (CDU), stated that gas will remain crucial for Germany's energy supply in the foreseeable future. She regards the commissioning of the second LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven as an important step towards greater supply security, diversification of energy sources, and resilience.
The federal government has advocated for the construction of LNG terminals on the North and Baltic Seas since the Russian attack on Ukraine, with the aim of achieving independence from Russian gas supplies.
The "Excelsior" arrived in Wilhelmshaven roughly a month ago, and due to subsequent test operations, the terminal's start-up has been delayed by several months. Originally, DET had anticipated the terminal to commence operation in the first half of 2024. The process from planning to commissioning took approximately two and a half years.
Compared to the entire German gas supply, all current LNG terminals account for a relatively small share of 8% of the energy mix. Critics critique the expansion of German LNG terminal infrastructure as disproportionate. Nonetheless, Tonne defends the terminals, pointing out that they also provide additional import opportunities during peak consumption times or in a crisis.
Unlike the first Wilhelmshaven terminal, which employs bioicide in the form of chlorine for cleaning purposes, discharging chlorine-containing wastewater into the Jade, the second terminal utilizes ultrasound technology for cleaning. Environment Minister Christian Meyer expressed satisfaction with this new method from an environmental perspective. The federal government has covered the additional costs for the conversion.
According to DET reports, the new terminal is expected to offload and feed up to 1.9 billion cubic meters of gas into the network this year. In subsequent years, the terminal's capacity is set to increase to up to 4.67 billion cubic meters per year, providing energy for approximately 1.5 million four-person households.
Wilhelmshaven, energy supply, Liquefied Natural Gas, Germany, import terminal, Lower Saxony, Christian Meyer, SPD, Röttgen, cleanup
In the arsenal of Germany's expanding energy supply, the second LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven, run by Lower Saxony's state-owned Deutsche Energy Terminal Gesellschaft (DET), is now operational. This development, further supported by the use of ultrasound technology for cleaning purposes instead of bioicide, is expected to promote renewable-energy industry finance by importing up to 1.9 billion cubic meters of LNG this year, bolstering vocational training opportunities in the industry.
