Uniper and the Dutch Titan LNG have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to increase the growth of LNG as a fuel in the downstream markets for industry, road fuel and shipping fuel in Germany.
Image: Uniper and Titan LNG collaborates to boost LNG. Photo: Courtesy of Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash.
Both the companies are planning to develop a user-friendly technical interface and commercial products for small-scale LNG players from the Wilhelmshaven Floating Storage and Re-gasification Unit (FSRU) for LNG.
The terminal in Wilhelmshaven is expected to offer loading of small LNG seagoing vessels and barges. Furthermore, several truck loading bays are planned to provide the onward transport of LNG by road.
The company sees the distribution of LNG by truck from Wilhelmshaven as an important impulse for the establishment of LNG as truck fuel. Numerous LNG filling stations are being constructed in Germany.
Uniper chief commercial officer and member of the executive board Keith Martin said: “The agreement with an experienced and established market player in the small-scale LNG sector such as Titan LNG is another important step for the FSRU Wilhelmshaven project. Titan LNG has extensive know-how in the development of attractive products for customers in this segment.
“With Wilhelmshaven, we offer a first-class location for supplying the shipping and road fuel markets with LNG. With this cooperation, the FSRU Wilhelmshaven project can make an important contribution to reducing CO2 and pollutant emissions.”
Compared to diesel, LNG is capable of reducing CO2 emissions and no particles are emitted including greatly reduced nitrogen and sulfur oxide emissions.
The German Federal Government is encouraging the logistics companies by providing subsidies and toll-free use of German roads for LNG-powered trucks.
The company claims that the Wilhelmshaven is very suitable location to supply LNG for all downstream markets and in particular for marine fuels, as it is in close distance to the Jade Weser Port, Bremerhaven and the German Bight.
Titan LNG CEO Niels den Nijs said: “Titan LNG is pleased that we can contribute the know-how we have built up over the last six years to this project for the LNG downstream market. We believe that the short distances to the markets will help to boost LNG as a fuel. Our existing and future customers will benefit from the economic and environmental advantages of this fuel.”
Titan LNG and Uniper are the major suppliers in the small-scale LNG market segment. Currently, Uniper is developing a Floating Storage and Re-gasification Terminal (FSRU) at its Wilhelmshaven site.