Deutsche LNG-Ausbaupläne führen zu Überkapazität und gefährden

This report by the NewClimate Institute reviews the current state of planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) import capacities in Germany, comparing assessments from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and the Energy Economics Institute at the University of Cologne (EWI). The author argues that planned expansions are oversized, pose climate risks, and create economic dangers through potential stranded assets.

• The planned expansion of LNG terminals in Germany is oversized and exceeds what would be necessary for a reserve buffer. The report notes that the BMWK and EWI underestimate total capacities by listing shorter runtimes and smaller capacities for individual terminals than are technically possible, which hinders a realistic needs analysis.
• The LNG Acceleration Act allows new and planned terminals to operate until the end of 2043. High utilization of these plants would make Germany's climate goals unattainable, and some BMWK natural gas consumption assumptions are difficult to reconcile with the legally binding Climate Protection Act.
• Low utilization of terminals creates economic risks, potentially turning most into stranded assets. The BMWK report assumes utilization of less than 50% for most years, with only 23% assumed for 2030. Charter costs for currently unused but chartered floating terminals are estimated at 1.2 billion euros until the end of the contracts.
• Hydrogen-readiness does not justify overcapacity because the projected demand for hydrogen in Germany, specifically via sea imports, is expected to be relatively small. The report highlights that the planned onshore terminal in Wilhelmshaven is labeled as a green gas terminal despite being a standard LNG terminal for natural gas.
• The report asserts that onshore terminals are not necessary at any point and that existing floating terminals are sufficient to cover temporary supply bottlenecks, even in extreme situations. Overcapacity in LNG leads to lock-ins of fossil energy and hinders the energy transition.

APA

NewClimate Institute (2023). Deutsche LNG-Ausbaupläne führen zu Überkapazität und gefährden. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/deutsche-lng-ausbauplane-fuhren-zu-uberkapazitat-und-gefahrden

Chicago

NewClimate Institute. Deutsche LNG-Ausbaupläne führen zu Überkapazität und gefährden. 2023. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/deutsche-lng-ausbauplane-fuhren-zu-uberkapazitat-und-gefahrden.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=NewClimate Institute |title=Deutsche LNG-Ausbaupläne führen zu Überkapazität und gefährden |date=17 March 2023 |url=http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/deutsche-lng-ausbauplane-fuhren-zu-uberkapazitat-und-gefahrden |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{newclimateinstitute2023deutsche, author = {{NewClimate Institute}}, title = {{Deutsche LNG-Ausbaupläne führen zu Überkapazität und gefährden}}, institution = {NewClimate Institute}, year = {2023}, month = mar, url = {http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/deutsche-lng-ausbauplane-fuhren-zu-uberkapazitat-und-gefahrden}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }