Grain LNG sets all-time record for gas send-out from a European terminal

• 698 GWh exported to UK network eclipses Grain LNG’s previous record by more than 100 GWh
• Terminal has seen 110% increase in imports over the same period last year

On Wednesday 13 November 2019, National Grid Grain LNG, Europe’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, exported the highest ever amount of gas in a single day from any European terminal into the UK network.  

The terminal, situated on the Isle of Grain in the Thames estuary, exported 698 GWh of gas, beating its previous record by more than 100 GWh. 698 GWh of gas represents around a quarter of UK gas demand, which is enough to supply gas to all of London and the South East. 

Grain LNG is a critical part of the UK’s energy infrastructure. The terminal offers market participants direct access to the UK’s NBP (National Balancing Point), one of the world’s leading gas trading hubs. Yesterday’s record is part of a broader trend that has seen rising demand for capacity from key market players at the terminal over the last year.

Nicola Duffin, Commercial Manager for Grain LNG, said: “UK gas demand is actually only slightly higher than what we’d normally see this time of year. The record activity is due to a global LNG oversupply, which has seen significantly more cargos head for North West Europe. As a result, we’ve seen a sharp increase in demand for capacity at the terminal. We expect utilisation will remain high throughout the winter and beyond.  This is good news for UK consumers, who will benefit from more secure and more competitively priced gas supplies.”

Grain LNG recently launched an ‘open season’ process for customers interested in buying capacity from 2025. The terminal is seeking industry feedback on a new service proposal during an initial consultation phase between now and 10 January 2020. The market is invited to place legally binding bids for the capacity by 10 March 2020, and Grain LNG is expecting to allocate capacity by the end of March 2020.

For further information on Grain LNG, go to: www.grainlng.com.

Contact for media information only

Press Officer
 Simmie Korotane
 [email protected]
 +44 (0)7971 343383
 +44 (0)1926 653942

Notes for editors

National Grid Grain LNG

• National Grid Grain LNG, a wholly owned subsidiary of National Grid, owns and operates the UK’s first modern LNG importation terminal, playing an important role in securing UK gas supply.
• Commissioned in July 2005, the terminal is presently able to provide up to 25% of the UK’s gas demand.  LNG is essentially the gas used in homes and business, which has been chilled to -161 degrees centigrade into a liquid state.
• In addition to regassification Grain LNG offers add-on services including truck loading bays, reloads, cool-downs and trans shipments.

Notes to Editors: 
National Grid is pivotal to the energy systems in the UK and the north eastern United States. We aim to serve customers well and efficiently, supporting the communities in which we operate and making possible the energy systems of the future.
 

National Grid in the UK:

• We own and operate the electricity transmission network in England and Wales, with day-to-day responsibility for balancing supply and demand. We also operate, but do not own, the Scottish networks. Our networks comprise approximately 7,200 kilometres (4,474 miles) of overhead line, 1,500 kilometres (932 miles) of underground cable and 342 substations.
• We own and operate the gas National Transmission System in Great Britain, with day-to-day responsibility for balancing supply and demand. Our network comprises approximately 7,660 kilometres (4,760 miles) of high-pressure pipe and 618 above-ground installations.
• Other UK activities mainly relate to businesses operating in competitive markets outside of our core regulated businesses; including interconnectors, gas metering activities and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) importation terminal – all of which are now part of National Grid Ventures. National Grid Property is responsible for the management, clean-up and disposal of surplus sites in the UK. Most of these are former gas works.

Find out more about the energy challenge and how National Grid is helping find solutions to some of the challenges we face at https://www.nationalgrid.com/group/news

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