The LNG industry is looking at a new era in LNG distribution. Gas Natural Fenosa, one of the largest LNG suppliers in the world, and Connect LNG have together made the first ever floating LNG ship to shore system a reality.
During the successful sea launch of the first full-scale and market-ready Universal Transfer System (UTS) on October the 7th, Gas Natural Fenosa and Connect LNG carried out a complete operation including transfer of LNG from Skangas’ LNG carrier Coral Energy to the onshore LNG terminal at Herøya, in one of the largest and most energy-consuming industrial parks in Norway.
The design and fabrication of the UTS has involved the highest safety standards, and the complete system has undergone an extensive classification process by DNV GL.
The time from finalization of the detailed design to successful hook-up of the terminal took less than 6 months. The solution has been installed at the Herøya terminal 1 day after arrival from the dockyard, being in full operation the day after, which exemplifies the rapid deployment ability of the solution.
The patented Universal Transfer System (UTS) is a game-changing floating solution for LNG transfer between ship and shore that replaces the need for cost and environmental intensive harbor and jetty structures. This solution allows for rapid expansion of the value chain and transfer of LNG at locations where it was previously not possible due to environmental and economic constraints. The UTS is a plug&play solution which requires no modifications to the LNG carrier.
The UTS is a floating LNG transfer solution, consisting in a platform which can connect to any LNG carrier. LNG is then safely and efficiently transferred from the platform to the onshore terminal through floating flexible pipes.
Gas Natural Fenosa, in collaboration with Connect LNG, is putting in the market a system to enable rapid expansion of the LNG value chain to allow end users to access cheaper and cleaner energy. The UTS is the Direct Link that will enable meeting the rapidly escalating natural gas demand for power generation in emerging markets.
“We started an innovation journey and here we are today with a game-changing solution that is revolutionary for the LNG industry. From now on, we have a market-ready system that opens a world of possibilities in the LNG small scale business”, commented a Managing Director of Gas Natural Fenosa.
“With Connect LNG’s disruptive technology and agile company culture, combined with Gas Natural Fenosa’s long and strong track record in the energy market, there was an obvious foundation for collaboration and leveraging both companies’ strengths as a basis for enabling access to natural gas where today it is not economically viable”, declared an Executive Director of Connect LNG.
As a pioneer in gas and electricity integration, Gas Natural Fenosa is a multinational group operating in more than 30 countries with almost 22 million customers. The company is present across the whole natural gas value chain, and thanks to its gas pipelines, the presence in liquefaction, storage and regasification plants, as well as its fleet of LNG carriers, the company is well positioned and flexible enough to meet global future energy needs.
Connect LNG was established on the belief that cleaner and cheaper energy should be accessible worldwide. Based on decades of Norwegian experience with LNG and maritime technology, Connect LNG developed a cost-effective and flexible LNG transfer system to make this mission a reality.
Source: Connect LNG