Uniper Global Commodities and the Dutch company Vesta Terminals have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to evaluate the feasibility of refurbishing and expanding an existing storage facility at Vlissingen, in The Netherlands, with the aim of creating the first green ammonia hub in northwest Europe. Uniper intends to book capacity in the terminal, which is named ‘Greenpoint Valley’, to create an entry point into the northwest European markets for the growing green ammonia and hydrogen activities within the Uniper group. It is anticipated that developing these markets will also further strengthen security of supply in Europe.
A potential capacity booking in Vlissingen will be part of Uniper’s efforts to create several access points for green energy into Europe and will be pursued in parallel to its ongoing Wilhelmshaven ammonia terminal project. At Wilhelmshaven Uniper is building the first LNG import terminal in Germany, and in addition planning an import terminal for green ammonia. The Wilhelmshaven site will become a green energy hub, and it is hoped it will set the course for an increasingly climate-friendly energy supply.
Vesta Terminals currently has 60 000m³ of refrigerated storage capacity in Vlissingen, which was built for ammonia, and as a future hub will be able to handle initial throughput capacity of 0.96 mtpa. The terminal is well located for the supply of green ammonia by seagoing vessels re-loading into barges and rail tank cars. In a second phase the throughput capacity of the facility can be expanded to 1.92 mtpa and the terminal will be connected to the Dutch hydrogen pipeline network. The commissioning and start of operations is envisaged for beginning of 2026.
