100th LNG delivery to Germany: from zero to 7 percent

A shipment of liquefied natural gas reached Germany for the 100th time this week. The federally owned Deutsche Energy Terminal GmbH (DET) celebrated the arrival of the ship with 165,000 cubic meters of cryogenic natural gas as a "significant milestone". On Wednesday afternoon, the ship arrived at the LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven, the first landing point to go into operation at the end of 2022 after a few months of construction. Another terminal is currently under construction in the north-western city, but its completion will apparently be delayed.

According to the DET, 71 of the 100 deliveries arrived in Wilhelmshaven. A further 29 ships unloaded their gas in Brunsbüttel. The liquefied natural gas (LNG) has strengthened "energy security for Germany" and its European neighbors, according to a press release. DET is the operating company of the LNG terminals in Brunsbüttel and Stade as well as the two terminals in Wilhelmshaven, which will be opened in the future. There are also privately operated terminals in Lubmin and Mukran on the island of Rügen.

A small share of the gas supply

However, compared to the loss of Russia's large share in the past, LNG still makes a small contribution to supply. According to the Federal Network Agency, a total of 69,656 GWh of natural gas was imported to Germany via German LNG terminals in 2023. This corresponds to a 7% share of total German gas imports. According to calculations by heise online, the share is likely to increase slightly this year. Between January 1 and August 8, 2024, it amounted to 8.2% of German imports. Of an average of 2402 GWh of gas imports per day, a peak of 360 GWh can be attributed to German LNG terminals.

Until a few years ago, 40 percent of European gas imports came from Russia. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea triggered a rapid shift away from Russian gas supplies.

Frugality helped the most

According to the Federal Network Agency, thriftiness for households and industry contributed most to the easing of the gas supply situation. Compared to average consumption in the years 2018 to 2021, natural gas consumption fell by 17.5 percent in 2023. Private households and commercial enterprises saved 16.4 percent. The decline in consumption in industry compared to previous years amounted to 18.3%. Gas consumption in Germany will continue to decline this year.

With the commissioning of the second terminal in Wilhelmshaven, LNG imports in Germany are likely to increase even further in the future. As with the existing terminal, the use of a special ship, a so-called Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU), is planned. This will be the first in the world to use ultrasound to prevent mussels, algae and others from fouling its pipes. The use of chlorine in the first terminal caused controversy. Environmentalists sharply criticize the procedure.

However, the FSRU "Excelsior" is currently still in the shipyard, reports the "Wilhelmshavener Zeitung". The jetty currently under construction will have to be rebuilt after damage was caused to the metal structure and a pipe.

(mki)