On August 29, Germany will launch its second liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal at Wilhelmshaven port.
This move by state operator Deutsche Energy Terminal (DET) is part of the country’s efforts to diversify its energy supply, according to a Reuters report.
The unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022 triggered a significant shift in Germany’s energy policy.
Historically reliant on Russian pipeline gas, Germany was compelled to seek alternative energy sources to ensure its national security and economic stability.
This pivotal moment led to a strategic pivot towards global, seaborne liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports.
Shifting preferences
To mitigate its dependence on Russian supplies, Germany rapidly developed and deployed new LNG import terminals along its coast.
These facilities, some of which were fast-tracked as floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs), allowed for the direct import of LNG from various international suppliers, thereby diversifying Germany’s energy portfolio.
Countries such as the US, Qatar, and other producers of natural gas became increasingly important partners in Germany’s energy supply chain.
In parallel with the increased reliance on LNG, Germany also substantially ramped up its imports of pipeline gas from Norway.
Norway, a long-standing and reliable energy partner, became an even more crucial source of natural gas for Germany.
This dual approach of increasing both LNG imports and pipeline gas from Norway served to replace the substantial volumes previously supplied by Russia, which had accounted for a significant portion of Germany’s gas consumption.
DET markets and operates floating terminals. These terminals convert liquefied natural gas back into gas, which is then fed into Germany’s gas network.
Boosting LNG capacity
DET announced that the commissioning and tests for Wilhelmshaven 2’s equipment have been completed.
These operations, which began in May, enable subsea gas transfer to an onshore head station, thereby minimising environmental impact, among other benefits.
DET managing director Peter Roettgen was quoted in the Reuters report:
Regular operations of the Wilhelmshaven 2 terminal with the floating storage and regasification unit “Excelsior” can now make their contribution to security of supply and to filling gas storage facilities before the next heating season.
In a significant development for the energy market, a recent sales round conducted by DET in July successfully allocated all available regasification slots for both 2025 and 2026.
These crucial slots, which enable the conversion of LNG back into its gaseous state for distribution, were secured by various key players within the gas market.
Future supply
This outcome underscores the robust demand for regasification capacity and signals active planning by market participants to ensure their future gas supply.
US-based LNG company Excelerate Energy owns and operates the ship Excelsior. Additionally, DET has commissioned two other major partner firms.
Additionally, local management processes will be coordinated by German Gasfin Services, while Lithuanian KN Energies will be responsible for commercial and technical maintenance services.
This year, the vessel is projected to supply the onshore grid with up to 1.9 billion cubic meters of natural gas.
This volume is sufficient to meet the heating demands of approximately 1.5 million households, each comprising four people residing in apartment buildings.
The amount is set to increase to 4.6 bcm in both 2026 and 2027.
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