Deutsche Energy Terminal’s (DET) second LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven in Germany will start commercial operations today [29 August], following a successful commissioning phase.
The launch follows several weeks of functional and performance tests. The terminal had already received its approval under hazardous incident regulations from the Oldenburg Trade Supervisory Authority [GAA] on 1 August and was commissioned at the end of May.
Dr Peter Röttgen, Managing Director of DET, said Wilhelmshaven 02 combined several technologies that were unique in Germany and Europe, from the FSRU to onshore feed-in.
“On the one hand, there is ECOnnect’s flexible pipeline system for the direct transfer of natural gas to land without a pipe bridge. This has significantly reduced the impact on the seabed ecosystem,” he said.
“On the other, the ultrasonic process for cleaning the FSRU’s seawater pipeline system, which is unique in Europe, has now been put into operation.”
The Wilhelmshaven 02 terminal, with the FSRU Excelsior, is now fully operational and can contribute to security of supply and to filling the gas storage facilities before the next heating season.
For this purpose, DET offered the market corresponding regasification capacities in a marketing round at the beginning of July. These capacities were fully purchased by traders, as were all capacities for 2026.
Excelerate Energy, a leading provider of integrated LNG infrastructure solutions, owns the FSRU Excelsior and manages its full operations, including onboard regasification services.
David Liner, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer at Excelerate Energy, said the terminal’s design – including an advanced gas export system and Europe’s first ultrasonic anti-fouling technology – demonstrates the strength of its technical capabilities.
The on-site terminal operations have been entrusted by DET to Gasfin Services.
Danny van Schie, Managing Director of Gasfin Services, said Wilhelmshaven02 is already the second terminal – after Brunsbüttel – for which Gasfin is responsible for operational management on behalf of DET.
Lithuanian LNG company KN Energies has been entrusted with the commercial management as well as the technical operations and maintenance of the terminal.
CEO Darius Šilenskis said it will draw upon its proven track record from operations and maintenance of LNG terminals in Lithuania and Brazil.
In 2025, Excelsior will feed up to 1.9 billion cubic metres [bcm] of natural gas into the German gas grid.
In the two subsequent years, Excelsior’s regasification and grid feed-in capacity will then reach up to 4.6 bcm each. The first LNG terminal opened in December 2022.