Ground-breaking ceremony for Germany's first LNG land terminal
Germany's first land-based LNG terminal is being built in Stade. It will also be able to process ammonia for hydrogen imports. Nevertheless, there is criticism.
3D visualization of the Hanseatic Energy Hub in Stade. The ground-breaking ceremony took place on Friday.
(Image: HEH)
With the official ground-breaking ceremony for the first liquefied natural gas land terminal, LNG imports now also have a long-term perspective in Germany. Triggered by Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, Germany has set up several seaborne terminals with special ships over the past two years. The Hanseatic Energy Hub in Stade, Lower Saxony, is the first terminal to be built that is not of a temporary nature. However, it is controversial in view of the federal government's climate targets. The official start of construction took place on Friday with guests from politics and business.
According to the operating consortium, which consists of several companies, the project will cost around one billion euros and will be ready for operation from 2027 in order to import LNG, synthetic natural gas and liquefied biomethane. The final investment decision was made in March and the Spanish transmission system operator Enagás was appointed as the technical operator of the terminal. Later on, the terminal will also be able to import ammonia, which can be used as a CO₂-neutral energy source for hydrogen.
(Image: HEH)
Replacement for floating terminal
The land terminal is to replace the floating terminal in Stade. The "Energos Force" Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) has been on site since March. However, it is still waiting to be deployed, which has been delayed due to remaining work. It was originally due to be ready by the end of 2023. Other floating terminals already exist in Wilhelmshaven, Brunsbüttel and Lubmin
The construction of the two largest LNG tanks in Europe with a capacity of 240,000 cubic meters is planned in Stade. At peak times, more than 1100 people will be working on the construction site. The construction requires 3600 piles to be sunk into the ground and 60,000 cubic meters of concrete to be poured. The steel structure consists of 11,000 tons of material.
Environmentalists criticize the project
According to the operator, the Stade land terminal can handle 13.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year. The three European energy suppliers EnBW, SEFE and ČEZ have already booked 90 percent on a long-term basis. The terminal was planned for more than six years - in other words, it was already planned before the war in Ukraine.
Environmentalists, including the Bund für Umwelt- und Naturschutz (BUND), criticize that the construction of such a terminal would run counter to Lower Saxony's goal of greenhouse gas neutrality and lock in dependence on fossil fuels for decades to come. They also criticize safety deficiencies and have therefore filed a lawsuit.
(mki)