Brunsbüttel FSRU
| Part of the Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker, a Global Energy Monitor project. |
Brunsbüttel FSRU, also known as Elbehafen LNG Terminal, German LNG Terminal, and Hamburg LNG Terminal, is an LNG import terminal in Germany with units that are proposed and operating.
Location
Table 1: Location details
| Name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Ammonia Import Terminal Phase 1 | Brunsbüttel, Hamburg, Germany[1][2] | 53.887255, 9.171014 (exact) |
| Ammonia Import Terminal Phase 2 | Brunsbüttel, Hamburg, Germany[1][2] | 53.887255, 9.171014 (exact) |
| Brunsbüttel FSRU (base project) | Brunsbüttel, Hamburg, Germany[1][2] | 53.887255, 9.171014 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the terminal:
Project Details
Table 2: Infrastructure details
| Name | Facility type | Status | Capacity | Total terminal capacity | Offshore | Associated infrastructure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia Import Terminal Phase 1 | import[3] | proposed[3] | 0.3 mtpa[3] | – | True | Brunsbüttel LNG Terminal[4] |
| Ammonia Import Terminal Phase 2 | import[3] | proposed[3] | 2 mtpa[3] | – | True | Brunsbüttel LNG Terminal[4] |
| Brunsbüttel FSRU (base project) | import[5] | operating[6] | 3.67 mtpa[5] | N/A (multiple facility types) | True | Brunsbüttel LNG Terminal[4] |
Table 3: Cost
| Name | Facility type | Cost | Total known terminal costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia Import Terminal Phase 1 | import[3] | – | US$1,090,000,000 |
| Ammonia Import Terminal Phase 2 | import[3] | – | US$1,090,000,000 |
| Brunsbüttel FSRU (base project) | import[5] | US$1,090,000,000 (1,000,000,000 EUR)[7] | US$1,090,000,000 |
Financing
No financing data available.
Table 4: Project timeline
| Name | Facility type | Status | Proposal year | FID year | Construction year | Operating year | Inactive year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia Import Terminal Phase 1 | import[3] | proposed[3] | –[3] | – | – | –[3][8][9][3][8][9] | – |
| Ammonia Import Terminal Phase 2 | import[3] | proposed[3] | –[3] | – | – | – | – |
| Brunsbüttel FSRU (base project) | import[5] | operating[6] | 2022[10] | – | 2022[11] | 2023[5][8][9][5][8][9][6] | – |
Ownership
Table 5: Ownership
| Name | Facility type | Status | Owners | Parent companies | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia Import Terminal Phase 1 | import[3] | proposed[3] | other[12][13] | other | KN Energies[14][15] |
| Ammonia Import Terminal Phase 2 | import[3] | proposed[3] | other[12][13] | other | KN Energies[14][15] |
| Brunsbüttel FSRU (base project) | import[5] | operating[6] | German LNG Terminal [100%][12][13] | Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau [50.0%]; Nederlandse Gasunie NV [40.0%]; RWE AG [10.0%] | KN Energies[14][15] |
Table 6: Vessel ownership
| Name | Facility type | Status | Vessel | Vessel owners | Vessel operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia Import Terminal Phase 1 | import[3] | proposed[3] | Höegh Gannet[16] | Höegh Evi[16] | KN Energies[14][15] |
| Ammonia Import Terminal Phase 2 | import[3] | proposed[3] | Höegh Gannet[16] | Höegh Evi[16] | KN Energies[14][15] |
| Brunsbüttel FSRU (base project) | import[5] | operating[6] | Höegh Gannet[16] | Höegh Evi[16] | KN Energies[14][15] |
Background
The FSRU was proposed in 2022 in response to the European gas crisis and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The vessel is to serve as a "forerunner" of the proposed onshore LNG terminal, Brunsbüttel LNG Terminal, slated to be online by 2026.[17]
In February 2022, as part of a package of measures designed to help reduce Germany's dependence on Russian gas imports, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told the Bundestag that the federal government had decided to fast-track the construction of the Brunsbüttel terminal and the Wilhelmshaven LNG Terminal.[18] The Brunsbüttel project promoter Gasunie said in a statement: "Talks with the German government about the construction are in the final stage. Gasunie hopes to start construction of the terminal before the end of the year. In addition to LNG, this terminal will be made suitable for importing (green) hydrogen as well".[19]
In March 2022, Gasunie and the German state-owned bank KfW signed a memorandum of understanding to advance the project, with KfW becoming a shareholder in the German LNG Terminal company. As part of the deal, the existing other shareholders in the company – Vopak LNG and Oiltanking – will ultimately leave the company by May 2022. Gasunie and the German government were keen to accelerate the approval process for the project, which continues to be challenged by German environment groups, at "full speed". Once approval is granted, construction of Brunsbüttel would be able to start and is expected to take up to 3.5 years to complete.[20][21] KfW owns 50% of the project, Gasunie 40%, and Germany's largest power producer RWE has taken a 10% stake in the project.[22] Spiegel reported that the cost for the project was expected to be around €1 billion, an increase on previous estimations of €450 million.[23] Shell also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with German LNG Terminal under which it committed to making a long-term booking of a substantial part of the Brunsbüttel terminal's LNG capacity, with both parties working towards a binding agreement on the scope and duration of their partnership.[24]
As of March 2022, the terminal was cited as having a planned capacity of 8 bcm/y (which would later be reduced to 3.6 bcm/y).[25][26]
German environmental NGO Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) was critical of the project's fast-tracking, pointing out that on top of construction of the terminal itself, 80 kilometres of connecting pipelines would also have to be constructed. In addition, the terminal location in Brunsbüttel "is particularly problematic because of its proximity to nuclear facilities," according to DUH.[27] A legal opinion commissioned by DUH sets out how construction of the Brunsbüttel LNG terminal near to a former nuclear power plant and petrochemical facilities is not permissible under the Seveso Directive, a European Union directive aimed at controlling major chemical accident hazards.[28]
In July 2022, Gasunie announced that it expected construction of the facility to begin in September, and for it go online in late 2022/early 2023.[29] In September 2022, construction began on a pipeline to connect the FSRU to the grid.[30] As of 20 January 2023, the Hoegh Gannet vessel had moored at Brunsbüttel's Elbehafen port, though the terminal had yet to be formally commissioned.[31] On 14 February 2023, the terminal received its first shipment and became operational.[32] Commercial operations began in May 2023.[33]
In April 2024, DET said a new dedicated jetty was under construction to host the Hoegh Gannet, replacing the temporary site where it has been located since beginning operation.[34]
Ownership and Operations Management
In January 2023, the German government established a new state-owned company to manage five FSRU-based LNG import terminals chartered from Hoegh LNG, Dynagas, and Excelerate Energy, and the accompanying infrastructure at Wilhelmshaven, Brunsbüttel, Stade, and Lubmin. Deutsche Energy Terminal GmbH (DET) is 100% owned by the German government. DET holds the charter contracts for the vessels and is responsible for the technical and commercial operation of the FSRU-based terminals.[35] In July 2023, Lithuania's KN Energies (formerly Klaipedos Nafta) won a contract to provide commercial operations for the terminal.[36][37]
Ammonia Import Terminal
RWE is also exclusively developing an ammonia import terminal, with its first phase planned to import 300,000 tonnes per annum as early as 2026. In a second phase, the developer would build a large industrial-scale cracking unit at the terminal to convert the ammonia to green hydrogen on site, at which point the ammonia import capacity will be 2 mtpa. RWE has been granted use of the space to develop the facility by Brunsbüttel Ports GmbH, which will also act as a logistical partner.[38]
Articles and Resources
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of LNG terminals, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://www.google.com/maps/place/53%C2%B053'14.1%22N+9%C2%B010'15.7%22E/@53.8872584,9.1684388,584m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d53.8872553!4d9.1710137?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDcyMC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 https://www.vesselfinder.com/?imo=9822451.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 https://www.rwe.com/en/research-and-development/project-plans/brunsbuettel-project-location/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 https://www.rivieramm.com/news-content-hub/news-content-hub/phase-2-development-advances-at-brunsbuttel-fsru-terminal-84490.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 (PDF) https://giignl.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GIIGNL-2024-Annual-Report-1.pdf.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 (PDF) https://giignl.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GIIGNL-2023-Annual-Report-July20.pdf.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/ukraine-krise-niedersachsen-will-vereinbarung-fuer-fluessiggas-terminals-a-378b5c0b-6702-43c2-a981-2eba37b338ed.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 https://lngprime.com/contracts-and-tenders/update-gasunie-expects-german-fsru-terminal-to-launch-this-year/56894/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 https://www.rwe.com/en/press/rwe-ag/2023-01-20-floating-lng-terminal-arrives-at-brunsbuettel.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://www.offshore-energy.biz/construction-of-brunsbu%CC%88ttel-lng-terminal-kicking-off-in-september/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://www.bayern-innovativ.de/en/page/start-of-construction-for-brunsbuettel-lng-terminal.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 (PDF) https://germanlng.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2022-03-05-PR-Moving-forward-with-new-shareholder-structure_ENG_final.pdf.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 https://www.reuters.com/article/ukraine-crisis-germany-rwe-idUSL8N2V8042.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 https://www.upstreamonline.com/lng/lithuanian-player-wins-german-lng-terminal-contract/2-1-1478257?utm_medium=email&_hsmi=264661723&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8j_1EkUK1-y_S8vbXbf8hfphAhKqy_uinmr6miTQqeQ9FlGhLZuqnqS5-9Acf07JJ-DOEyX1Pn5dITNcrev16qJSch3FS_bwY1uTPj-sZUjH6CdC0&utm_content=264661723&utm_source=hs_email.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 https://lngprime.com/europe/german-fsru-terminal-operator-starts-operations/71010/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 https://www.offshore-energy.biz/hoegh-lng-and-germany-firm-up-second-10-year-fsru-charter-deal/?utm_medium=email&_hsmi=242548933&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--AxM7-FAIJe9jXxtxYllFUrP5ycR3Tao6WvR5CXS5GuSCgz91TB8xIk9D6jkFl18u1kTBFXfpO2wD0vYnEXGm_WpCIysyq6e59KwXSjsjEA6dWQe0&utm_content=242548933&utm_source=hs_email.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ Sanja Pekic (2022-07-20). "Construction of Brunsbüttel LNG terminal kicking off in September". Offshore Energy. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
- ↑ Stuart Elliott, Germany's Uniper mulls resuming work on Wilhelmshaven LNG import terminal, S&P Global, Feb. 28, 2022
- ↑ Naida Hakirevic Prevljak, Germany to break free from Russian gas with two LNG terminals, Offshore Energy, Feb. 28, 2022
- ↑ Sanja Pekic, Gasunie to start German LNG Terminal construction, Offshore Energy, Mar. 7, 2022
- ↑ FAQ-Liste LNG-Terminal in Deutschland, German Federal Ministry for Economy and Climate, Mar. 6, 2022
- ↑ RWE will hold 10% in planned Brunsbuettel LNG terminal, Reuters, Mar. 5, 2022
- ↑ Phillip Kollenbroich, Lower Saxony wants support for four LNG terminals, Spiegel, Mar. 23, 2022
- ↑ Vera Eckert, Shell signs deal to receive LNG at future German Brunsbuettel terminal, Reuters, Mar. 23, 2022
- ↑ Nikolaus J. Kurmayer, Germany signs initial contract to build first LNG terminal, Euractiv, Mar. 7, 2022
- ↑ https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/67bdb9fc993751711c5f54fd/685278fda1e68e3b4324e2cf_0432365c1c5b8fb129ae8055cca8cb9b_%23GIIGNL%20-%20Livre%202025-20250610-Simple.pdf
- ↑ Nikolaus J. Kurmayer, Germany signs initial contract to build first LNG terminal, Euractiv, Mar. 7, 2022
- ↑ "Zur Frage der störfallrechtlichen Zulässigkeit eines Terminals zur Lagerung und Regasifizierung von Flüssigerdgas (Liquefied Natural Gas = LNG) in Brunsbüttel", Deutsche Umwelthilfe, Apr. 15, 2019
- ↑ Construction of Brunsbüttel LNG terminal kicking off in September. Offshore Energy. July 20, 2022.
- ↑ Start of construction for Brunsbüttel LNG terminal. Bayern Innovativ. September 26, 2022.
- ↑ RWE. "Floating LNG terminal arrives at Brunsbüttel and increases German liquid gas import capacity". www.rwe.com. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ↑ "Germany's Third LNG Import Terminal Receives First LNG Tanker". The Maritime Executive. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
- ↑ GIIGNL. The LNG Industry: GIIGNL Annual Report 2023. July 14, 2023.
- ↑ Staff, LNG Prime (2024-04-12). "DET: work starts on new Brunsbuttel LNG jetty". LNG Prime. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ↑ "German FSRU terminal operator starts operations". LNG Prime. 2023-01-17. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Lithuanian player wins German LNG terminal contract". Upstream Online | Latest oil and gas news. 2023-06-30. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
- ↑ gasworld (2024-01-10). "KN Energies manages German LNG terminals after rebrand". gasworld. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ↑ RWE. "RWE at the Brunsbüttel location". www.rwe.com. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
