ENB Pub Note: In my interviews with Steve Reese, CEO of Reese Energy Consulting, they have been at the front of the natural gas and LNG export to Germany story. Having industry leaders, CEOs, authors, and policy makers on my podcast has been very insightful. They have a great story to tell on investing in U.S. energy from the molecules in the ground to your own country’s doorstep. Energy security begins at home, and we are tracking those countries that have invested heavily in “renewable wind, solar, and hydrogen,” only to end up in a financial crisis. That pattern is now undeniable, and “Turley’s Law” seems to have a long time to run. As a reminder, “Turley’s Law” refers to the fact that the more money spent on wind, solar, and hydrogen, the more fossil fuels will be used. We are working on a more detailed report that examines this topic in greater detail, as well as its connection to the financial crisis. I am working on reports for our Substack to illustrate how Turley’s Law came about, along with the numbers to support it.
We are seeing this play out in multiple new investments in the United States energy sector. The update from LNGPrime below prompts me to examine the German overall energy mix, and why is a small story about an import terminal important? Germany has been a leader in the green energy transition and is enforcing Net Zero energy policies. They went from poster child of green energy to being on the milk carton of lost financial wealth and a runaway cost of energy, which has caused deindustrialization and put every “Green Energy Economy” on the edge of a fiscal crisis cliff. This also follows a similar story on Energy News Beat today about Egypt. They had transitioned to “Net Zero” and followed the UN’s climate energy policies, only to end up in a financial crisis, becoming an energy importer, and experiencing deindustrialization.
Germany’s DET Import Facility and the Evolving Energy Mix: A 2025 Perspective
Germany, Europe’s largest economy, continues to navigate a complex energy landscape in 2025, balancing its ambitious clean energy goals with the realities of energy security and economic pressures. At the heart of this transition is Deutsche Energy Terminal GmbH (DET), the state-owned operator managing Germany’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) import infrastructure. Recent developments, including the commissioning of DET’s third floating LNG terminal, underscore Germany’s efforts to diversify its energy supply while grappling with a shifting energy mix. This article explores DET’s role and the broader dynamics of Germany’s energy composition, drawing on the latest available data and trends.
DET’s Role in Germany’s Energy Strategy
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 disrupted Germany’s reliance on Russian pipeline gas, the country has accelerated efforts to secure alternative energy sources. DET, established to manage Germany’s LNG import infrastructure, has become a cornerstone of this strategy. In May 2025, DET commissioned its third floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU)-based terminal in Wilhelmshaven, following the successful operation of terminals in Brunsbüttel and Stade. This latest addition enhances Germany’s capacity to import LNG from diverse sources, such as the United States and Qatar, reducing dependency on any single supplier.
The Wilhelmshaven terminal received its first commissioning cargo in May 2025, a significant milestone in bolstering Germany’s energy security. These FSRUs allow Germany to import LNG at a faster pace than traditional onshore terminals, which require years to construct. However, LNG imports, while critical for replacing Russian gas, come at a higher cost—often multiple times that of pipeline gas—contributing to elevated energy prices in Germany.
DET’s infrastructure is a pragmatic response to the energy crisis sparked by geopolitical tensions. Before 2022, Germany relied on Russia for over half of its natural gas and a third of its oil. The pivot to LNG, alongside increased imports from other suppliers, reflects a strategic shift to diversify supply chains. Yet, this transition has not been without challenges, as Germany’s energy mix in 2025 reveals a complex interplay of renewables, fossil fuels, and emerging debates over nuclear power.
Germany’s Energy Mix in 2025: A Mixed Picture
Germany’s energy transition, or Energiewende, aims to achieve a sustainable, low-carbon future, but 2025 has brought setbacks. Clean energy sources, including wind, solar, and hydropower, generated the smallest share of Germany’s electricity in over a decade during the first four months of 2025, dropping to levels not seen since 2018. Low wind speeds were a primary culprit, causing wind power’s share to fall from 34% in January-April 2024 to 24% in the same period in 2025, despite a 30% increase in wind generation capacity.
Solar power, however, has shown resilience. On May 12, 2025, Germany’s solar output reached 47,817 megawatts, nearing the record set in July 2024, reinforcing its position as Europe’s leader in renewable energy. Despite this, the overall decline in clean energy production forced German utilities to increase fossil fuel output by 10% compared to the previous year, with coal and gas filling the gap. This shift has raised concerns about Germany’s ability to meet its net-zero goals, especially as fossil fuels now account for the highest share of the energy mix since 2018.
Natural gas remains a critical component, with Germany importing nearly 95% of its supply. The reliance on LNG, facilitated by DET’s terminals, has helped stabilize supply but at a steep cost. A Bloomberg report notes that German utilities are pushing to lower the country’s gas storage target to 80% for the 2025-2026 winter, aiming to ease market tensions after rapid depletion of inventories. This move highlights the delicate balance between energy security and affordability.
Nuclear Power: A Policy Shift?
A significant development in 2025 is Germany’s evolving stance on nuclear energy. Under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who assumed office following the February 2025 election, Germany has softened its long-standing opposition to labeling nuclear power as a green energy source in EU policy. This marks a departure from the anti-nuclear stance cemented by Angela Merkel after the 2011 Fukushima disaster, which led to the phase-out of Germany’s last nuclear power plants in April 2023.
Public sentiment is also shifting. A March 2025 poll by Innofact found that 55% of Germans favor a return to nuclear power, with stronger support in southern and eastern regions. The new CDU/CSU-SPD coalition government, led by Merz, has not explicitly committed to reviving domestic nuclear capacity but is open to supporting nuclear-friendly EU policies. This could facilitate broader adoption of nuclear energy across the bloc, potentially easing Germany’s reliance on fossil fuels.
Additionally, innovative projects like Focused Energy’s plan to build a laser-driven fusion research facility at the former Biblis nuclear site signal Germany’s interest in next-generation nuclear technologies. The U.S.-German startup aims to have the facility operational by 2035, reflecting a long-term vision for fusion as part of the energy mix.
Renewables and Political Tensions
Germany’s renewable energy expansion continues, albeit with challenges. The construction of 18 wind turbines in the Reinhardswald “fairytale forest” has sparked controversy, with far-right groups like the Alternative for Germany (AfD) opposing such projects as part of a broader anti-renewable campaign. Despite this, conservation groups have cautiously supported the project, citing the minimal land use (0.07% of the forest) and the turbines’ contribution to clean energy goals.
The new government’s energy policy, outlined in a March 2025 coalition agreement, emphasizes expanding renewable capacity while adding 20 gigawatts of gas power plants as a “bridge solution.” Merz has described gas plants as a temporary measure, but critics argue this could lock in fossil fuel dependency. The government also plans to invest €500 billion in grid infrastructure to address bottlenecks that have forced reliance on energy imports from neighboring countries.
Economic and Environmental Implications
High energy prices remain a concern, driven by costly LNG imports and the expensive expansion of renewables. A Boston Consulting Group study estimates that Germany could save €300 billion by 203ಸ್ವಾಮಿ 2035 through more efficient energy transition measures. The Merz government faces pressure to balance affordability with climate commitments, especially as the EU pushes for a 90% emissions reduction by 2040.
Germany’s energy mix in 2025 reflects a nation at a crossroads. DET’s LNG terminals provide short-term stability, but the decline in clean energy output and reliance on fossil fuels highlight the challenges of the Energiewende. The potential re-embrace of nuclear power, alongside continued renewable expansion, could reshape the future, but political and economic hurdles remain.
As Germany navigates these challenges, DET’s infrastructure and the broader energy policy under Merz’s leadership will play pivotal roles in determining whether the country can achieve a sustainable and secure energy future.
Sources: Reuters, Bloomberg, The Guardian, OilPrice.com, DW, Politico
This article provides a snapshot of Germany’s energy dynamics in 2025, focusing on DET’s contributions and the broader energy mix. For the latest updates, visit Energy News Beat or follow discussions on the Energy News Beat Substack.
Update Source: LNGPrime.com
DET will offer terminal capacities for regasification, LNG storage, and sendout to the grid for the year 2025 at the Wilhelmshaven II terminal, and 2026 for the Brunsbüttel, Wilhelmshaven I, and Wilhelmshaven II facilities.
According to a statement by DET, the products will include capacities with both obligation to deliver (OTD) and no obligation to deliver (NOTD).
The auctions are scheduled to take place via the PRISMA platform between June 23 and July 2.
DET said that it will publish a detailed auction schedule “shortly.”
The LNG terminal developer just received the first commissioning cargo at its second FSRU-based terminal in Wilhelmshaven.
The 174,000-cbm Energy Endurance, owned by Alpha Gas, delivered the shipment from Venture Global LNG’s Plaquemines LNG export plant in Louisiana to Excelerate’s 138,000-cbm FSRU Excelsior in Wilhelmshaven.
Last month, the FSRU Excelsior docked at a new jetty, two kilometers south of the already operational Wilhelmshaven 1 terminal, to start serving the second FSRU-based terminal.
Earlier this year, DET allocated all of the 2025 regasification slots offered at the Brunsbüttel and Wilhelmshaven I terminals.
DET offered 17 Wilhelmshaven 1 slots (6 OTD and 11 NOTD) and 27 Brunsbüttel slots (3 OTD and 24 NOTD).
Before this, DET allocated six regasification slots for the first quarter of 2025 at the two FSRU-based facilities.
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