The current crisis recalls how crucial fostering a secure and resilient energy system is to protect EU citizens and economies. Diversifying roads and sources of supply is essential: this is where LNG terminals come in. According to GIE’s new Large Scale LNG map and database, they could enable Europe to import 3000 TWh of liquified energy.
The association of the gas infrastructure operators of Europe (GIE) published its new 2022 map and database of the Large-scale LNG facilities. Well-recognised in the energy sector, those transparency tools offer a good overview of the reality in the field with updated facts and figures. The 2022 edition underlines that LNG terminals could be the entry door for over 3000 TWh of imported energy per year.
LNG terminals: Open door to massive volumes of low carbon & renewable energy
LNG and its infrastructures are crucial to enhancing the security of supply in Europe. It offers solutions to diversify the sources and routes of supply. Besides, it enables the EU to access gas resources at a global level and thus reduces the dependence on a limited number of suppliers. Currently transporting natural gas, LNG infrastructure could accommodate BioLNG with almost no additional investments.
LNG Terminals in EU27
21 operational large-scale terminals, including onshore and offshore
Current importing capacity of ~1920 TWh per year
200 TWh/year additional capacity under construction
Another ~1200 TWh/year capacity to be built by 2030
Import capacity in EU27
The 16 onshore large-scale terminals cover most of the import capacity (~1700 TWh/year) while the 5 Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) and other offshore types stand for the rest of ~220 TWh/year
LNG facilities for a resilient energy supply system: “LNG terminals play an essential role in firming up the security of gas supply to Europe: they offer access to the global gas market, hence offering options to widely diversify the sources and routes of supply. By 2030, they can provide imports of over 3000 TWh per year, as such covering the estimated EU gas imports demand. To make these volumes available to all members states, gas infrastructure operators will enhance market interconnections, storage use, grid interoperability and route flexibility.” Arno Büx, GLE President
A tool to monitor the security of supply in Europe:
GIE Transparency tools provide an enhanced vision of the crucial for experts to monitor the energy market evolution. It supports decision-makers and analysts in their work by bringing figures on the reality on the ground. GIE AGSI+ and ALSI Transparency Platforms are proving to be reliable and well-recognised information sources offering daily reporting by storage and LNG facilities operators. A good example is the increased web traffic currently witnessed on GIE Transparency Platforms: we speak about 297% augmentation over the last 180 days.
Close up on GIE’s transparency activities:
For more than 15 years, GIE has worked and innovated to offer the most reliable, efficient, and user-friendly transparency instruments. Further platform upgrades that provide additional data visualisation and export options are expected. GIE transparency services are further completed by the implementation of standardised transparency templates by storage system and LNG system operators, maps publication (LNG, storage, biogas, etc.) and their associated databases, and specific database content such as the GLE Services Inventory and LNG List of Services.
Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) is the association representing the interests of European gas infrastructure operators active in gas transmission, gas storage and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) regasification. GIE is a trusted partner of European institutions, regulatory bodies and industry stakeholders. It is based in Brussels, the heart of European policymaking. GIE currently represents 70 member companies from 26 countries. GIE’s vision is that by 2050, the gas infrastructure will be the backbone of the new innovative energy system, allowing European citizens to benefit from a secure, efficient and sustainable energy supply.
