Five new LNG terminals Europe entered service or reached advanced construction in 2026, adding a combined regasification capacity that analysts at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) project will bring the continent’s total import buffer to record levels. The buildout is dominated by Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRUs) deployed at speed, alongside phased expansions of major onshore terminals in Poland, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
New LNG Terminals Europe: How We Ranked Them
The terminals below are ranked by operational status and strategic significance in 2026. Priority is given to facilities that entered commercial service or reached final investment decision within the past 12 months. Capacity expansions at existing terminals are listed separately in a dedicated section. Data is drawn from IEEFA’s European LNG Tracker and operator announcements.
1. Wilhelmshaven 2 — Germany
Operated by Deutsche Energy Terminal (DET), the state-backed operator mandated to manage Germany’s FSRU fleet, Wilhelmshaven 2 deployed the FSRU Excelerate Excelsior and is now fully operational. The terminal is targeting a capacity step-up to 4.6 bcm per year, making it one of the higher-capacity FSRU installations in northern Europe. DET also operates the Stade terminal on the Elbe River using the FSRU Energos Force, Germany’s fifth floating LNG hub, which is targeting commercial operations in the second quarter of 2026.
2. Ravenna LNG Terminal — Italy
Italy’s newest import infrastructure is an offshore floating terminal utilising the FSRU BW Singapore. Construction of the 880-metre offshore breakwater was awarded under a €216 million development contract, and the terminal is now commissioned and scaling utilisation. Annual capacity is rated at 5 bcm. The Ravenna terminal broadens Italy’s import geography beyond the existing Adriatic LNG facility and reduces dependence on a single supply corridor.
3. Brunsbüttel LNG Terminal — Germany
The Brunsbüttel site, operated by German LNG Terminal GmbH adjacent to Hamburg, is transitioning from a floating configuration using the FSRU Höegh Gannet to a permanent land-based terminal. Rated capacity stands at 353 bcf. The site has undergone significant technical and environmental upgrades ahead of the land-based rollout, which would make it one of the few post-2022 European terminals to graduate from floating to fixed infrastructure.
4. Dioruga Gas FSRU — Greece
Located in Corinth, the Dioruga Gas FSRU received regulatory approval to commence commercial operations in 2026. The terminal supports Greece’s expanding role as a southeastern European energy transit hub, with gas flows directed toward the Balkans corridor. Greece already operates the Revithoussa terminal, one of the ten largest LNG receiving terminals in Europe by capacity, and Dioruga adds a second regasification node to the country’s infrastructure.
5. Stade LNG Terminal (FSRU Energos Force) — Germany
Germany’s fifth FSRU, operating on the Elbe River at Stade under DET’s management, forms part of the federal government’s target to reach 25.4 million tonnes per year of combined floating regasification capacity. The Energos Force vessel is slated for operational status in Q2 2026. Germany’s rapid deployment of multiple FSRUs — across Wilhelmshaven, Brunsbüttel, Lubmin, and now Stade — represents the fastest FSRU buildout by any single country in European history.
For context on the operators behind these vessels, see our ranking of the top 10 FSRU operators globally, which covers Excelerate Energy, Höegh LNG, BW LNG, and Deutsche ReGas. Germany’s floating terminal network is profiled in detail via the Deutsche ReGas operator profile.
Major Capacity Expansions at Existing New LNG Terminals Europe
Alongside greenfield builds, several established European terminals executed material capacity expansions in the 2025–2026 window:
| Terminal | Country | Expansion Detail | New Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Świnoujście LNG | Poland | Third storage tank + new offloading jetty | 8.3 bcm/year |
| Zeebrugge LNG | Belgium | Processing capacity upgrade | 12.6 MTPA |
| Gate Terminal | Netherlands | Fourth LNG storage tank + BOG compressor | Expansion ongoing |
| Krk LNG | Croatia | Regasification ceiling raised to 3 MTPA; new EU-funded pipeline links | 3 MTPA |
Market Context: US Supply and the 2027 Russian LNG Deadline
The United States supplies roughly two-thirds of Europe’s aggregate LNG intake, a share that has grown steadily since 2022. The EU is approaching a January 2027 deadline to phase out remaining long-term Russian LNG contracts, adding regulatory urgency to the buildout of new LNG terminals Europe-wide.
The IEA projects European LNG import demand will reach a record 185 bcm in 2026, a figure that the current wave of FSRUs and onshore expansions is designed to absorb. Operator attention is also shifting toward future-proofing: several of the new terminals are being designed or retrofitted to handle bio-LNG, e-LNG, and clean ammonia as the energy transition progresses. Europe’s gas storage operators are managing corresponding pressure on underground storage fill rates ahead of winter 2026–27.
For a full capacity ranking of established import facilities, see the Top 10 LNG Receiving Terminals Europe — which covers South Hook, Isle of Grain, Gate Terminal, and the Spanish Enagas network.
What are the newest LNG terminals in Europe in 2026?
The newest LNG terminals entering service or advanced construction in Europe in 2026 include Wilhelmshaven 2 (Germany, FSRU Excelerate Excelsior), Ravenna LNG (Italy, FSRU BW Singapore), Stade LNG (Germany, FSRU Energos Force), and the Dioruga Gas FSRU in Corinth, Greece. Germany alone is operating or commissioning five floating LNG terminals under the state-backed Deutsche Energy Terminal.
How much new LNG regasification capacity is Europe adding in 2026?
Europe is adding significant new capacity across FSRUs and expansions. Germany is targeting 25.4 MTPA of combined floating capacity. Italy’s Ravenna terminal adds 5 bcm/year. Poland’s expanded Świnoujście terminal now delivers 8.3 bcm/year. The IEEFA European LNG Tracker projects the total continental capacity buffer is reaching record levels in 2026.
Which country has built the most new LNG terminals in Europe since 2022?
Germany leads by number of facilities, having commissioned or advanced five FSRUs — at Wilhelmshaven 1, Wilhelmshaven 2, Brunsbüttel, Lubmin, and Stade — between 2022 and 2026. This is the fastest FSRU deployment programme by any single European country.
What is an FSRU and how does it differ from a land-based LNG terminal?
A Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) is a ship-shaped vessel permanently moored offshore or at a jetty that receives LNG from tankers, stores it cryogenically, and regasifies it for injection into the onshore pipeline grid. FSRUs can be deployed in 12–24 months versus 4–8 years for a land-based terminal, making them the preferred solution for Europe’s rapid post-2022 infrastructure build. Brunsbüttel is one of the first European FSRUs expected to transition to a permanent land-based configuration.
When does the EU deadline for phasing out Russian LNG contracts fall?
The EU is approaching a January 2027 deadline to phase out remaining long-term Russian LNG supply contracts. This regulatory pressure has been a direct driver of accelerated infrastructure investment in new LNG terminals across Europe, particularly in Germany, Italy, Greece, and the Baltic states.