Essen/Wilhelmshaven, 18 December 2025 – Gas network operator Open Grid Europe GmbH (OGE) and HES Wilhelmshaven Terminal GmbH have signed an agreement for an option to connect to the hydrogen network of the Wilhelmshaven Coastal Line (WKL). With this step, HES Wilhelmshaven Terminal GmbH is enabling the import of hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives, playing an important role in Germany’s energy transition, while also enabling the WKL the option to connect to multiple companies in the region.
The WKL is part of the German hydrogen backbone. OGE received the mandate from the Federal Network Agency and the German government in October 2024 to construct main sections of the hydrogen backbone. This network will connect import facilities in northern Germany with consumers of hydrogen. The WKL and the North Sea-Ruhr Link form the central pipelines for transporting hydrogen from the north to the west of Germany. Construction of these pipelines is scheduled to start in 2026, with commissioning planned for end of 2027.
Coen Janssen, Managing Director of HES Wilhelmshaven Tank Terminal, stated:
“HES Wilhelmshaven is transitioning into a New Energies Hub. Enabling hydrogen delivery into Germany is a key part of our strategy and therefore we are pleased to have secured the option to connect to the WKL network.”
By signing the agreement, HES International is investing in its role as Germany's new energies hub, which includes importing hydrogen(-carriers), exporting CO₂ as part of the CCS value chain from hard-to-abate sectors, electrification, and the production of e-fuels such as e-SAF.
About HES Wilhelmshaven Tank Terminal (HWTT):
- We are Germany’s largest independent liquid bulk terminal, located at Germany’s single deepest draft port. Strategically located in the Port of Wilhelmshaven, our state-of-the-art infrastructure has ample deep-water berths and facilities which allow storage and transshipment of a wide range of liquid bulk products.
- We offer 1.3 million cbm storage capacity for a wide range of liquid bulk products, including liquified gases. Our flexible and safe infrastructure accommodates extensive seagoing, road and rail traffic. The terminal offers excellent connections to the heart of Europe’s most important heavy industries as well as some of Germany’s main consumption areas.
- Besides these facilities, HES Wilhelmshaven Tank Terminal offers many opportunities for expansion. We have a strong ambition to further diversify our business – seizing opportunities from the ongoing raw materials and energy transition by responding optimally to the opportunities that this transition offers us for products such as hydrogen, CO2 and clean fuels. The terminal is very well positioned to do so, with ample land available for development, and extensive jetty and rail capacity. This way, we are making a meaningful contribution to the region’s decarbonization goals, in line with the European Green Deal.