LIQVIS, VTG and Brunsbüttel Ports test ‘rolling pipeline’ with LNG

VTG AG has successfully conducted the first test transport of deep-cooled liquefied natural gas – LNG for short – for LIQVIS GmbH, a subsidiary of Uniper SE, using a specially developed tank wagon. The loading took place at the premises of Brunsbüttel Ports GmbH and was subsequently transported by rail to Ingolstadt.

(Hamburg/Essen/Brunsbüttel) LIQVIS aims to investigate the transport of LNG by rail as an important alternative to safely, economically, and environmentally friendly deliver LNG to potential LNG distribution centers. Rail transport could enable larger quantities to be transported in one batch, thereby reducing transport emissions and relieving road traffic. Additionally, the transport of hazardous goods by rail is characterized by a generally high level of safety.

Innovations on the Path to Sustainable Logistics

VTG has been committed to the energy carrier LNG for many years. As the first and so far only company in the rail sector, VTG has developed an innovative freight wagon in collaboration with Chart Ferox a.s. that enables the transport of LNG away from shipping routes, road transport, and a pipeline network within Europe. The novel tank wagons are equipped with a vacuum-insulated tank, ensuring that the transport temperature and filling temperature for LNG are maintained consistently. “VTG possesses the necessary know-how and logistics concepts to reliably, quickly, and environmentally friendly transport LNG across the European rail network already today,” says Heinz-Jürgen Hiller, Business Development LNG Europe. “As a rolling pipeline, our LNG tank wagons can permanently supply industries with high energy demands with liquefied natural gas. We are pleased about the partnership and are closing a gap in rail freight transport.”

Continuous Supply is of Central Importance

Sebastian Gröblinghoff, Managing Director of LIQVIS GmbH: “The continuous and secure supply of our existing and planned filling stations with LNG is of central importance for our customers and us. We are working to actively reduce CO₂ emissions not only by providing a product with as low CO₂ emissions as possible at our filling stations but also throughout the entire upstream value chain. With VTG, we have a strong partner by our side who shares our vision of a sustainable future and is working with us in the test project to identify further optimization potentials in the supply of our filling station network with LNG.”

Leading LNG Location

The Elbehafen of Brunsbüttel Ports GmbH was chosen for loading, after the initial filling of the specially developed VTG tank wagon with LNG was conducted there in April 2016. “The Brunsbüttel Elbehafen has developed into one of the leading LNG locations on the German North Sea coast in recent years due to its strategically advantageous location at the intersection of the Elbe and the Kiel Canal, its proximity to the Port of Hamburg, and its direct access to the Baltic and Scandinavian markets via the NOK,” explains Frank Schnabel, Managing Director of Brunsbüttel Ports GmbH / SCHRAMM group.

Regular truck-to-ship and ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operations take place in Brunsbüttel. Plans for an LNG import and distribution terminal are being advanced at the site. Further distribution of LNG could occur from Brunsbüttel both by rail in cooperation with VTG and via LNG bunkering ships as well as through the pipeline network.

Photo: © VTG