Germany aims to be climate-neutral by 2045. As part of the German energy transition, the phase-out of nuclear power and coal power generation has been decided and is currently being implemented. The future energy supply is focused on renewable energy. Until a corresponding expansion of renewable capacity, natural gas fills the remaining gap and is still a relevant energy carrier. Germany obtains more than 90% of its natural gas from abroad and supplies its European neighbours through its imports. The loss of pipeline natural gas from Russia left more than half of total German demand unmet.

Infrastructure in Germany
In the crisis, the federal government immediately took numerous measures to restore energy security. Our newly created terminals enable the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) via ship from other supplier countries. It is essential for the security of the German energy supply that there is always sufficient infrastructure to technically enable the necessary injection into the German gas grid – a crucial lesson from the past. Deutsche Energy Terminal GmbH (DET) was established to operate the federal terminal sites.

LNG imports stabilise gas prices
An FSRU in Wilhelmshaven 1 and one in Brunsbüttel are already operating regularly. In 2024, two more DET import terminals in Stade and Wilhelmshaven 2 will be connected to the grid. In addition to the operational management of these sites, the core tasks of the federally owned company include marketing their capacities for the regasification of LNG and injection into the German gas grid. In 2023, the DET terminals were able to inject around 59 TWh of energy into the German gas grid, which corresponded to the entire annual natural gas consumption of approximately 18% of all household and commercial customers, or 7% of total German consumption. The improved availability of natural gas compared to 2022, due to LNG imports by DET, also stabilises price developments in the gas market.

Responsibility as a transit country for energy
Germany has traditionally been a transit country for gas flows in Europe and thus also bears responsibility for its neighbours. In the interest of energy security, it is also essential to be prepared for possible European supply shortages.