Wilhelmshaven 1 LNG terminal

First Wilhelmshaven LNG terminal project

Since October 2022, KN has been providing commercial operator services to the German Wilhelmshaven 1 liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal. Following the takeover of the terminal by the German state-owned company Deutsche Energy Terminal GmbH (DET), a new consolidated tender for the commercial management of all four German LNG terminals was launched, and as a result of the tender, KN Energies started the commercial management of the Wilhelmshaven terminal as well as of the other three LNG terminals in Germany on DET’s behalf at the beginning of 2024.

The LNG terminal project in Wilhelmshaven, implemented by the German energy group Uniper, is considered to be the most advanced and the first of its kind in Germany.

This and several other LNG terminals in Germany aim to diversify the sources of natural gas supply, to strengthen the country’s energy independence and to provide a counterbalance to the natural gas previously supplied by pipelines from the East.

The Wilhelmshaven 1 LNG terminal is based on floating storage and regasification (FSRU) vessel technology, supplied and operated by the Norwegian company Hoegh LNG.

The LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven became operational in December 2022. The terminal’s operation was taken over by Deutsche Energy Terminal GmbH (DET), a subsidiary of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, in 2023.

Based on our first-hand experience working closely with KN, I have been entirely satisfied with the quality of services they have provided to us so far. Their professionalism, wealth of experience and knowledge in developing and managing LNG import terminals, and customer-centric approach make them an ideal choice for companies seeking a reliable and efficient partner in the LNG industry. I am confident in their ability to meet your expectations and deliver exceptional results.

Christian Janzen General Project Manager, Uniper Global Commodities SE

The Wilhelmshaven 1 LNG terminal project is located in Wilhelmshaven, in the north of Lower Saxony, on the Jade Bight in the North Sea.

The terminal consists of three elements: a 390 m long jetty with special equipment (fire-fighting system, maintenance cranes, high-pressure gas sleeves, etc.), an FSRU Höegh Esperanza, and a high-pressure pipeline of approximately 3 km to the gas metering station.
The 294 meter long and 46 meter wide FSRU Höegh Esperanza has been permanently moored at a jetty in the port of Wilhelmshaven since December 2022. The LNG being brought by LNG carriers is transferred to four LNG storage tanks with a total capacity of 170,000 cubic meters of liquefied natural gas and then regasified and feeded into the German gas pipeline network.

The Wilhelmshaven LNG terminal can accept LNG carriers with a capacity that ranges from 125,000 to 170,000 cubic meters. The terminal has a design annual regasification capacity of 7,5 billion cubic meters of natural gas. This corresponds to more than 8% of Germany’s gas demand in 2021.

For more information on the terminal, please visit the website of the terminal operator, Deutsche Energy Terminal GmbH.

KN role in the project

The scope of the commercial operator services provided by KN includes the establishment and operation of the gas accounting system and the IT infrastructure necessary for the commercial operations of the terminal.

KN also assisted in the preparation of the terminal’s commercial logistics operations, provided support on the operational rules, including the adaptation of the open access model, advised on the development of the procedures needed to allocate capacity at the terminal and provided other commercial terminal management services tailored to the client’s needs.

 
KN’s main activities in the Wilhelmshaven 1 LNG terminal project:

• Ensuring REMIT and other required reporting activities under EU regulations.
• Advising project company regarding project contractual documentation.
• Provision of Operational services, consisting of LNG inventory management, scheduling, gas accounting and related IT infrastructure set up for commercial operations.
• Ensuring gas dispatch 24/7 capability and maintaining interface with TSO and FSRU in related matters.
• Support in preparations of TUA and open access model.