New LNG terminal can supply 13 million households with gas
In order to ensure energy supply security in Germany, floating LNG terminals on the North Sea and Baltic Sea have gradually been put into operation since 2022. In the LNG process, natural gas is cooled down to -164 °C and liquefied in the process. In this aggregate state, it takes up only 1/600th of the volume of natural gas and can be transported by ship.
The ground-breaking ceremony in Stade this summer marked the official start of construction for Germany's first land-based terminal for liquefied gases. The zero-emission LNG terminal, which can also handle bio-LNG and synthetic natural gas (SNG), is scheduled to go into operation in 2027. The planned regasification capacity is more than 13 billion cubic metres per year. With the development of new climate-neutral energy sources, the hub will also facilitate the import of hydrogen-based energy sources.
Prioritising the environment and conserving resources
The Oldenburg branch of PORR Spezialtiefbau produced 1,490 Frankipile NG® piles with a diameter of 610 millimetres for the pile foundations of the huge LNG tanks. The geological conditions and static requirements necessitated pile lengths of 24 metres. ‘We recommended the Franki pile due to its high load-bearing capacity. The number of piles originally planned could therefore be significantly reduced. This made the project more economical and allowed it to be completed around two weeks ahead of schedule,’ says PORR special civil engineering project manager Martin Puchler.
The Frankipile NG®, also known as the ‘Greenpile’, offers further benefits. Due to the internal pipe ramming, only low noise emissions occur during production. TheCO2 footprint during production is also significantly reduced. No drilling material is produced during the manufacturing process due to the soil displacement, which makes additional transport and external utilisation superfluous. The use of slender Displacement piles also saves a considerable amount of concrete compared to alternative pile systems. This leads to a conservation of resources. Five test piles were manufactured and tested in advance to demonstrate the required high load transfer.
In addition toCO2 reduction, environmental protection was the top priority. The rinsing water from the concrete mixers was collected and treated in a special sedimentation tank. Noise and vibration levels were measured in advance to protect the wildlife in the Elbe. Last but not least, the working level was watered in dry conditions to prevent dust.