Uniper Global Commodities SE, Dusseldorf, and the Dutch Vesta Terminals BV, Ulrecht, The Netherlands, on Sept. 12 signed a Memorandum of Understanding to evaluate the feasibility of refurbishing and expanding an existing storage facility at Vlissengen, the Netherlands, with the aim to create the first green ammonia hub, “Greenpoint Valley,” in Northwest Europe.
Uniper intends to book capacity in the terminal to create an entry point for the growing green ammonia and hydrogen activities within the Uniper group. Developing the green ammonia and hydrogen markets will also further strengthen security of supply in Europe.
The project accompanies 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. Uniper is not only building the first LNG import terminal at Wilhelmshaven in Germany, but also planning an import terminal for green ammonia. The Wilhelmshaven site will become a green energy hub.
Vesta Terminals in Vlissingen, currently have 60,000m³ of refrigerated storage capacity built for ammonia and as a future hub will be able to handle initial throughput capacity of 0.96 mt/y. The terminal is located for the supply of green ammonia by seagoing vessels reloading into barges and rail tank cars. In a second phase the throughput capacity of the facility can be expanded to 1.92 million mt/y and the terminal will be connected to the Dutch hydrogen pipeline network. The commissioning and start of operations is envisaged for beginning of 2026.
Uniper is an international energy company and operates in more than 40 countries. The company plans for its power generation business in Europe to be carbon-neutral by 2035.
Vestaoperates in Europe with terminals in Belgium, Netherlands, and Estonia. It is a 50:50 joint venture between Mercuria Energy Asset Management BV and Sinomart KTS Development Ltd. Mercuria Energy Asset Management BV is affiliated to Mercuria Energy Group Ltd., an independent energy and commodity group.
Sinomart KTS Development Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sinopec Kantons Holdings Ltd. which is a storage and logistics company listed at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.