Spanish transmission system operator Enagás has been chosen by Hanseatic Energy Hub GmbH (HEH) as its industrial partner for the operation of the terminal at the Stade industrial park in the city of Stade, Germany.
Source: GasWorld
The company will also take a 10% stake in the project, joining founding shareholder the Hamburg-based Buss Group along with the Partners Group and industrial partner Dow.
According to Enagás, the previous minority shareholder Fluxys will sell its shares due to a strategic refocusing. The existing parties have agreed not to disclose the precise terms of the agreements until the final investment decision (FID) is taken throughout 2023.
Located in the Hamburg metropolitan region, the Hanseatic Energy Hub will consist of an import terminal that the partners hope will secure the country’s supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and green gases, in addition to preparing for the market ramp-up of hydrogen.
Enagás not only shares our vision but also contributes with comprehensive technical expertise to help us make it a reality quickly and reliably.
Johann Killinger, Managing Director of HEH and owner of the Buss Group
The second largest grid operator in Europe, Enagás will harness its experience in the use of hydrogen, biogas and biomethane to reach Net Zero by 2040.
Part of this commitment involves initiatives such as H2Med, the first European hydrogen corridor project which was submitted by Enagás and the TSOs of Portugal and France to the call for European Projects of Common Interest (PCIs). It has also submitted to the PCI call for proposals the Spanish Hydrogen Backbone.
Calling the new agreement an ‘important milestone’ in meeting the European objectives of security of supply and decarbonisation, Arturo Gonzalo, CEO of Enagás believes the deal to be a step forward in the company’s compliance with its Strategic Plan.
Enagás will contribute with its experience in the development of a hydrogen ready infrastructure that will be key for Germany.
Arturo Gonzalo, CEO of Enagás
From the end of 2023 until the land-based terminal begins operations, HEH will also be the site of one of five floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) chartered by the German government.
With a planned regasification capacity of 13.3 billion m3/a (cubic metres per annum), the €1bn terminal will facilitate the importation of LNG and green energy sources from 2027.
10bn m3/a of long-term LNG capacity has already been contracted with customers such as EnBW and SEFE, and the project is now pushing ahead with the ramp-up of hydrogen through conversion of ammonia.
The entire facility, including termina, port, industrial park and connection infrastructure has also been designed in such a way to enable the conversion of ammonia as a hydrogen-based energy source.
A market test will also take place to explore the potential for building an additional, smaller ammonia tank before the large tanks are converted, forming the basis for a ‘future-flexible’ modular system for the green energy transition at the park.
Having sold its share in the project, Fluxys remains confident that the project will become a success, with.
This gives us comfort to fully dedicate our focus to further projects where our contribution as essential infrastructure partner generates additional value for a low-carbon society.
Pascal De Buck, CEO
