The report, titled “The Contribution of Terminal Operators to Securing and Greening Energy for Europe”, was presented in Brussels last June and highlights the critical role of regasification plants in both decarbonisation efforts and ensuring energy supply security.
The presentation was attended by representatives from the European Commission, ACER (Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators), and a broad range of energy sector stakeholders.
The study was commissioned by Gas LNG Europe (GLE), an organisation currently chaired by Enagás, which played a key role throughout the process and in its subsequent public presentation. Conducted by DNV and Frontier Economics, the study was initiated following a request by the European Commission at the 37th European Gas Regulatory Forum held in Madrid in 2023.
The conclusions underscore the importance of regasification plants in the energy transition, identifying them as essential for achieving climate neutrality and ensuring the security of energy supply for the European Union Terminals are not only crucial for opening up new markets and value chains, such as those for ammonia or potential CO2 management, but they also support a gradual and cost-efficient energy transition while ensuring security of supply. This is achieved through the concept of “hybrid or multi-molecule plants”, according to the study.
The analysis quantitatively evaluates various decarbonisation pathways that existing terminals can pursue in the future. These pathways include the import of renewable and low-carbon gases in different forms, such as ammonia, LH2, and bio-LNG, and in some cases are linked to CO2 sequestration and storage technologies.
Ongoing projects
The event emphasised the need for a regulatory framework to support the adaptation of terminals to manage various energy carriers and molecules. It also underscored the importance of collaboration between regulators, the European Commission, industry, and port authorities to address common challenges, harness synergies, and contribute to the EU's climate goals.
Several European operators presented their decarbonisation projects during the event. Claudio Rodríguez, Gas Assets General Manager at Enagás, presented the ongoing initiatives for the decarbonisation of Spanish terminals, including the multi-molecule plant projects, as well as the opportunities and challenges ahead. These developments could position Spain as an exporter of renewable and decarbonised energy, using the new energy carriers identified in the study.
The seminar also featured a keynote speech by Tatiana Márquez, a member of the Cabinet of the European Commissioner for Energy, who shared the Commission’s perspective on the potential of regasification plants to contribute to the security and decarbonisation of the European Union's energy supply.
