FAQ

LNG stands for “liquefied natural gas”. This is natural gas that is liquefied by cooling it down to -162 °C. In its liquefied state, it takes up only 1/600 of the volume of natural gas. This makes it very easy to transport in large quantities (up to around 265,000 cubic meters of LNG) on special ships (LNG tankers), so that many production sites around the world can serve as sources. When heated or regasified (“regasification), it returns to its gaseous state.

FSRU is the abbreviation for the technical term "Floating Storage and Regasification Unit" (FSRU). This is a floating landfall terminal for liquefied natural gas. This terminal is a special vessel that receives LNG from arriving vessels and converts it back to its gaseous state.

An LNG landing or import terminal always consists of a ship jetty, a regasification unit, a LNG storage or tank, and a connection pipeline into the respective natural gas transport network. There are land-based and FSRU-based terminals - the latter in the form of special ships (FSRU), which combine LNG storage and regasification unit. In Europe, there are many land-based terminals but so far only two FSRU-based LNG import terminals, near Pisa about 22 km off the Tuscan coast and at Klaipeda in Lithuania. The third terminal of this kind is now in Wilhelmshaven at the Vorlapper Groden site.

The nautical area near Wilhelmshaven with its deep fairway in Germany's only deep-water port can be navigated independently of the tide. In addition, an existing port infrastructure, the UVG, can be used. This means that the FSRU, which is firmly moored at the new jetty, can be approached by LNG carriers at any time. Nevertheless, the jetty is far enough away from the fairway not to interfere with maritime traffic. Another advantage with regard to the H2 future is the ideal infrastructure connection to the gas pipeline, highway and rail network. The nearby feed-in point to the German long-distance gas pipeline network and to the storage caverns in Etzel also make the nautical area near Wilhelmshaven the ideal location for an LNG terminal. The location in a port area already used for industrial purposes also meets the highest safety standards.

Wilhelmshaven is taking on a special role in the energy crisis. The region is becoming an energy hub for Germany, from which natural gas can be transported to all areas. Wilhelmshaven thus continues to contribute to security of supply in the energy sector, with around 5-8 percent of Germany's gas requirements being handled via the site's import terminal in the future. In this way, Wilhelmshaven is helping to diversify the sources of natural gas. In addition, it will serve as the site of a bridging technology into the future. While the energy supply is to be provided by LNG in the short term, an energy supply using green hydrogen is planned for the long term. At the same time, the floating terminal will create and secure jobs and strengthen the local economy. The expected trade tax revenues will also have a positive impact on the region.

The current geopolitical situation has once again highlighted the importance of diversifying not only supply sources but also import routes. The implementation of an LNG terminal in Germany contributes to the country's security of supply.

The realization of the Wilhelmshaven LNG terminal was based on all legal requirements. With the revival of plans for an FSRU-based LNG import terminal by the company Uniper from the years 2018/2019, it was possible to start quickly with new planning in March 2022. Parallel to the planning phase, the approval process was initiated and the procurement process started. Construction started in July 2022. It was only thanks to the planning and approval documents available from the Uniper preliminary project, the parallelization of the otherwise largely successive project steps, and the intensive cooperation between the companies responsible for the various subprojects - Uniper, OGE, and NPorts - that it was possible to realize the first LNG terminal in Germany so quickly. The approval procedures required for construction and operation cover all relevant aspects and follow the legal requirements without exception. No exceptions, such as deviating from the applicable environmental standards and tests, were therefore permitted when going through the various stages of obtaining the necessary official approvals and permits.
 

The Wilhelmshaven LNG terminal could thus be commissioned at the end of 2022/beginning of 2023.

In principle, natural gas can be found and produced on many continents worldwide. This gives Germany the advantage of becoming less dependent on individual producers. The sources of the LNG landed in Wilhelmshaven are decided by market participants on the basis of supply and demand. The most important exporters of LNG include, for example, the USA, Australia and Qatar.