Germany – The construction of the Hanseatic Energy Hub (HEH) in Stade has officially begun. Germany’s first onshore terminal for liquefied gases is scheduled to begin operation in 2027. The HEH will have Europe’s two largest LNG tanks, each with a capacity of 240 thousand cubic meters. These are already being made suitable for ammonia storage.
The Hanseatic Energy Hub will be at the heart of the planned German hydrogen network. The planned regasification capacity will be 13.3 billion cubic meters per year. German energy companies EnBW and SEFE have reserved annual capacities of 6 and 4 billion cubic meters, respectively. Czech energy company ČEZ has additionally reserved 2 billion cubic meters of capacity per year. For now, they have reserved for LNG capacity, but they may switch to hydrogen-based energy carriers such as ammonia. ČEZ previously reserved capacity in the floating LNG terminal (in Eemshaven) in the Netherlands.
After six years of preparation, construction of the HEH can now begin. Shareholders of the hub are Partners Group, Buss Group, Enagás and Dow. Enagás will be LNG terminal operator, working with Dow, which has an industrial site in Stade. Técnicas Reunidas is responsible for planning, procurement and is working with FCC and Enka for construction. Construction of the terminal involves an investment of about one billion euros.