First gas flows at Germany's third FSRU-based regasification terminal

First gas is flowing through the pipeline system at the Wilhelmshaven-2 terminal in Germany, following the successful commissioning of a second floating storage regasification unit (FSRU), Excelsior. 

"We had first gas on 23 May, following an official act," a Deutsche Energy Terminal (DET) spokesperson told Riviera. "Commissioning phase has been running smoothly ever since. Planned start of the commercial phase is the end of August."

"This marks the first time gas is being delivered to Europe through this newly installed subsea pipeline infrastructure," pipeline manufacturer Strohm said in an announcement.

Strohm, the world’s first producer of thermoplastic composite pipe (TCP), has provided more than 11 km of TCP to ECOnnect for the TES Wilhelmshaven Green Gas Terminal in Germany. The corrosion-resistant, lightweight pipeline technology is supporting the terminal’s subsea infrastructure in a high-current, environmentally sensitive zone, according to Strohm.

"In the initial phase, the terminal will be used to import liquefied natural gas using Strohm’s TCP, with the pipe being repurposed for liquid CO2 transport at a later stage," the manufacturer said.

DET is developing the Wilhelmshaven-2 terminal as part of a series of four FSRU-based terminals in Germany. 

State-owned DET noted the Wilhelmshaven-2 LNG terminal was connected to the grid in around 2.5 years – including planning and approval.

DET announced  it had brought FSRU Excelsior into operation following the receipt of its commissioning cargo from a Greek-owned LNG carrier in late May. 

Excelsior is DET’s third floating LNG import terminal and the second located in Wilhelmshaven. According to data from Kpler, Energy Endurance, a 2024-built LNG carrier owned by Anna Angelicoussis-led Alpha Gas, delivered the commissioning cargo on 16 May. The shipment comprised 74,520 tonnes of US LNG, regasified aboard 138,000-m³ FSRU Excelsior, which had arrived at Wilhelmshaven on 28 April.

FSRU Excelsior, operated by Excelerate Energy, is being leased by DET under a federal mandate. DET, a wholly state-owned company, is responsible for managing LNG infrastructure projects on behalf of the German government.

DET emphasised the terminal is “unique in Germany and Europe in several respects.” The island jetty, located approximately 1.5 km from the mainland, is positioned in one of the strongest currents in Europe. To minimise environmental impact, data, electricity and the natural gas pipelines are laid in the seabed connecting to a head station onshore.

ECOnnect’s innovative jettyless system enables the subsea transfer of natural gas from the offshore terminal.

Beginning in 2025, Excelsior is expected to feed up to 1.9Bn m³ of natural gas into the German grid – equivalent to the annual heating needs of around 1.5M homes.