The project focused on the study of the development of demand and access to liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the Baltic Sea region. A strategic approach to LNG development and a technological approach to cross-border consolidation of the LNG value chain was created. In addition, the project focused on capacity building and networking, including business partnerships for infrastructure and service development.
The project has been completed.
Short info
Project period: May 2016 - April 2019
Funding Programme: The project was co-financed by the European Union from the EU Interreg Baltic Sea Region 2014 - 2020 (European Regional Development Fund)
Project budget: Total EUR 3,05 million, funding (ERDF & Norway): EUR 2,34 million
Project focus:
Development of a BSR Blue Corridor Strategy
Creation of a BSR LNG cluster
Establishment of a BSR LNG Competence Centre
Implementation of conferences and trainings
Informing about the LNG value chain, business models as well as technologies, standards, regulatory issues
Creation of an LNG Shipping and Trucking Index
Project partners
The project consortium consists of 18 partners from 6 different countries (Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Lithuania, Poland) and brings together all major LNG stakeholders in the Baltic Sea Region.
- Klaipeda Science and Technology Park, Lead Partner (LT)
- NPPE Klaipeda Shipping Research Centre (LT)
- Wismar University of Applied Sciences: Technology, Business and Design (DE)
- inwl non-profit Limited Institute for sustainable Economics and Logistics (DE)
- World Maritime University (SE)
- Blekinge Institute of Technology (SE)
- Maritime Development Center (MDC) / Transport Innovation Network / (DK)
- Municipality of Samso (DK)
- OSK-ShipTech A/S (DK)
- Shipping & Offshore Network (NO)
- Baltic Ports Organization (EE)
- Maritime University of Szczecin (PL)
- SC Klaipedos nafta (LT)
- ATI erc gGmbH education, research and furtherance of cooperations (DE)
- Logistics Initiative Hamburg (DE)
- Motus (PL)
- Clean Shipping Index AB (svb) (SE)
- RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB (SE)
Project contents & goals
The project focused on the development of demand and access to LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). In addition to value chain and LNG case studies, the accessibility and price of LNG as a marine fuel was a major focus of the project.
High infrastructure costs and limited demand have an impact on the fact that infrastructure costs account for 30 to 50% of LNG costs for the end user. To lower the price cap, we need to consolidate a broader value chain by adding new users that contribute to the price of LNG infrastructure and reduce investment risks.
The project took a strategic approach to LNG development by providing a BSR strategic concept for "Blue Growth" (Blue Corridor Strategy), a technology approach to consolidate the LNG value chain, and capacity building and networking - including through business partnerships - through the creation of a BSR LNG cluster. To ensure the sustainability of the LNG infrastructure, a concept for liquid biogas (LBG) has been developed.
The strategy aims to define a strategic approach to LNG infrastructure development and to mobilise the critical mass of technology, business partnerships and regulators to implement LNG-based transport corridors in the integrated BSR value chain. In turn, an integrated, transnational LNG value chain will help to increase the competitiveness of LNG fuels by improving economic and environmental performance and increasing demand for fuels and infrastructure.
Project results
The project has institutionalised business and science networks by establishing a BSR LNG Competence Centre and the BSR LNG Cluster.
The BSR LNG Cluster is an organisation of economic cooperation involving national stakeholders from Lithuania, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany and Poland. As a transnational LNG network, the Cluster complements locally and nationally networked companies and institutions by connecting stakeholders from the entire Baltic Sea region and beyond.
The BSR LNG Competence Centre consists of thirteen educational institutions from the Baltic Sea Region, which aim to improve LNG education and build a critical mass of available LNG technology specialists, both academic and operational, in a common approach across countries and scientific institutions.
The Competence Centre is unique in its form and brings together expertise, knowledge, training facilities and research infrastructures and provides cooperation and management models to enable and accelerate joint service delivery and project development.
In order to use the LNG infrastructure as a growth and sustainability factor for the BSR, numerous studies, brochures and information material on the LNG value chain, technological concepts and business models for LNG and Bio-LNG have been developed. Key findings and stakeholders were networked, trained and informed in conferences and training sessions (together with the Competence Centre and the BSR LNG Cluster). Thus, the project partners involved as well as their regions and LNG stakeholders will continue to benefit beyond the end of the project.
