After a two-year construction period, Shell Energy has inaugurated its maiden German bio-LNG plant situated at the Cologne-Godorf refinery site, marking a significant stride towards sustainable energy production in the region.
With a formidable capacity of 100,000 tonnes per annum, this facility stands as the largest of its kind in Germany, underscoring Shell's commitment to advancing eco-friendly fuel alternatives.
The bio-LNG produced is poised to cater to the refueling needs of 4,000 to 5,000 LNG lorries, equating to approximately 15 to 20 vehicles refueled daily, thus significantly reducing carbon emissions in the transportation sector.
“We will endeavor to supply the plant with as much biomethane as possible,” affirmed Felix Faber, managing director of Shell Germany, in an interview with energate during the opening ceremony.
Shell sources biomethane for the liquefaction plant from the gas grid, requiring approximately 1.5 billion kWh of biomethane annually to produce the targeted 100,000 tonnes of bio-LNG.
In a strategic move, Shell has partnered with Danish company Nature Energy for procurement, aiming to bolster its supply chain and optimize production processes.
“Initially, only German biomethane will be used. Once the regulations on biomethane imports have been adapted, Shell is also hoping for imports from Denmark in order to minimize the use of natural gas in production,” stated Raoul Koenig, project lead for the initiative.
During a comprehensive plant tour in Cologne, Koenig elucidated that current volumes of German biomethane are sufficient to power approximately 70% of production in an environmentally friendly manner, emphasizing Shell's commitment to green energy practices.
