Why was LNG terminal built?
The floating LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven was built as the first terminal in the Federal Republic of Germany due to the geopolitical situation caused by gas shortage. In 2022, the Federal Republic deemed Germany's gas supply in-secure due to Russia's war against Ukraine. As a result, alternatives were created in a very short time to ensure the gas supply over the winter.
Using a floating LNG terminal (FSRU) also offers flexibility, as these floating units can be installed and removed rela-tively quickly. This allows for rapid responses to changes in energy policy or demand without leaving permanent struc-tures in the sensitive Wadden Sea.
Information about the construction of the LNG terminal
The floating LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven was built as the first terminal for liquefied natural gas in the Federal Re-public of Germany in a record time of 225 days.
For the realization, Niedersachsen Ports, OGE (Open Grid Europe), and Uniper worked hand in hand to create the infrastructure for the floating terminal and connect it to the German gas network. The FSRU "Höegh Esperanza" has been anchored in Wilhelmshaven since mid-December 2022 and has been in operation since then.
The first liquefied natural gas was delivered with the arrival of the FSRU "Höegh Esperanza" on December 15, 2022, as it also serves as a storage unit. The LNG which it brought with it was regasified and fed into the German gas net-work after docking at the terminal. The LNG terminal was officially opened on December 17, 2022, in the presence of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Robert Habeck, and Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner.
