Multinational energy firm RWE AG announced on Friday, March 18, 2022, that it will construct a terminal to import green energy in Brünsbuttel intended to facilitate the site conversion to a full center ready to import green molecules.

The announcement came a few days after an MoU was signed to construct the first German LNG terminal in the same location. In this project, RWE will rely on green ammonia as it is believed to be the best hydrogen derivative with high technological maturity.

RWE intends to continue its campaign of green conversion in this project and make Brunsbüttel a cheerleader and role model for the industrial community's decarbonization. According to Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Russia's war on Ukraine has pushed Germany to make efforts to stop depending entirely on fuel imports from Russia.

"The LNG terminal in Brunsbüttel is an important element in this, as it will increase the capabilities to import gas to Germany," said Habeck, adding that RWE's green ammonia terminal project will make an important contribution in the journey of supplying Germany with green hydrogen. The green ammonia project also offers a chance to learn about the conversion of LNG to greener derivatives.

The project aims at integrating the security of fuel supply and the protection of the environment, according to RWE CEO Markus Krebber. While the LNG terminal under construction will cater for sufficient fuel supply, the ammonia terminal will facilitate the importation of green molecules to enable decarbonisation of the industry.
By 2026, about 300,000 tonnes of green ammonia are projected to arrive in Germany through the terminal and be supplied to consumers. This project is set to cover the entire chain from import and transportation to the use by industrial consumers.

RWE plans to construct a large-scale industrial cracker at the terminal to produce green hydrogen at the site to be distributed to the industrial customers via a dedicated pipeline. With the construction of the large-scale cracker, the yearly ammonia volume will increase to 200,000 tonnes.

Brunsbüttel is an ideal site for the project's logistics as it has unrestricted access to the North Sea and Baltic Sea, besides being connected to the European inland waterways. Upon completion, the terminal will contribute to climate-friendly industrialization processes and has received support from Brunsbüttel Ports GmbH with tanker unloading infrastructure and space.

As the country makes strides towards achieving carbon-free climatic goals, demand for green molecules is likely is to increase in the future. To cater to the entire industry, the country needs to import green molecules to supplement its hydrogen, hence the relevance of the ammonia terminal.