German energy major Uniper has partnered with compatriot public seaports operator Niedersachsen Ports (NPorts) and green hydrogen provider Tree Energy Solutions (TES) for a new large joint import terminal for green gases in Wilhelmshaven.
On the sideline of the opening ceremony for the first German LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven , the three companies signed an agreement to cooperate in the planning of a new large joint import terminal with up to six berths for TES and Uniper.
In parallel, Uniper will conduct technical studies that should enable the company to import around 2.6 million tons of green ammonia per year.
This capacity plus the 1-GW electrolysis plant for hydrogen production planned as part of the Uniper Green Wilhelmshaven project could supply around 300,000 metric tons of green hydrogen, equivalent to 10-20% of the demand expected for 2030 throughout Germany, the partners explain.
TES aims to take the final investment decision (FID) in 2023, with the goal of starting the first phase of the largest import terminal in Europe in 2026.
The terminal is expected to have a capacity of 20 million tons of LNG and eNG. TES aims to begin importing the first eNG by the end of 2025 or early 2026 and to increase capacity to 5 million tons by 2030.
The planned new jetty, to be placed in front of the Voslapper Groden, will probably require investment funds of approximately €500 million euros and the financing still has to be clarified, Uniper said.
The partners expect that this investment in the infrastructure for a CO2-free hydrogen economy and the planned import projects for green and decarbonised gases will make Wilhelmshaven the largest energy hub in Germany and will supply green energy as hydrogen for Germany as a business location in the future
This will accelerate the development of a green import infrastructure that will enable a shift away from fossil fuel imports, Uniper concludes.