Deutsche Energy Terminal (DET) strengthens security of supply with third LNG terminal

German energy supply security through the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) has gained another anchor of stability: on April 28, the FSRU Excelsior reached its specially constructed island jetty in the Jadestrom near Wilhelmshaven. The 277-metre-long Floating Storage and Regasification Unit of the shipping company Excelerate Energy will be operated by the federally owned Deutsche Energy Terminal GmbH (DET) in future. Together with its local partners, the company operates the state-initiated floating regasification terminals (FSRU). In the coming weeks, the floating regasification vessel will be connected to the long-distance gas network and prepared for commissioning under strict safety requirements.

Dr. Peter Röttgen, Managing Director of DET, commented on the event: “The arrival of the Excelsior is another milestone for the completion of the Wilhelmshaven02 terminal and thus for the security of supply and stabilization of gas prices in Germany and Europe. This winter we have seen how quickly the German gas storage facilities are emptying. The discontinuation of pipeline-based gas supplies via Ukraine at the turn of the year has put our European neighbors under pressure. Past experience also makes it clear how crucial a reliable supply of natural gas remains as long as renewables do not yet fully cover our energy needs. In order to reliably fill the storage facilities for the coming winter and keep natural gas prices as low as possible for industry, commerce and, last but not least, households, we need the capacities of LNG terminals to strengthen the resilience of our energy supply - especially in crisis situations. We would like to thank all partners involved for making another important step towards this joint success possible.”

Security of supply, a look into the future
Wilhelmshaven02 is DET's second terminal in Wilhelmshaven and, together with Brunsbüttel, DET's third terminal. The core of the facility, the FSRU Excelsior, has a storage capacity of 138,000 cubic meters of LNG. In 2025, the regasification ship will feed up to 1.9 billion cubic meters of natural gas into the German gas grid. In mathematical terms, this corresponds to the natural gas consumption for heating 1.5 million four-person households in apartment buildings. In each of the two subsequent years, Excelsior's regasification and grid feed-in capacity will then reach up to 4.6 billion cubic meters, which is equivalent to the heating energy required by up to 3.7 million four-person households.

The ship, built in 2005 by the shipping company Excelerate Energy, will be connected to the German natural gas grid via the second Wilhelmshaven connection pipeline (WAL II) of Open Grid Europe (OGE). The event also focused on the specially constructed island pier, built on behalf of DET by the companies Engie and Tree Energy Solutions (TES). The steel structure founded in the seabed of the Jade Current has no physical connection to the dyke 1.5 kilometers away, is connected subsea to the onshore transfer station via various pipelines and is unparalleled in Germany in terms of engineering technology.