IVG Caverns’ core business is the building, operating, and renting of caverns for the storage of oil and natural gas. IVG Caverns is to expand its North German field of subterranean storage caverns for petroleum and natural gas. Due to favourable geological starting conditions the field in the North German Etzel region is one of the largest European cavern storage sites. The subterranean formations of rock salt are practically impermeable for petroleum and don’t react chemically.
To ensure that the negative impacts on both natural and built environment are as low as possible, Grontmij is to provide an environmental impact assessment study, a landscape conservation plan, and protected species expertise. Grontmij is also responsible for the process management.
Ina Brandes, Managing Director Grontmij Germany states: ‘This large project can support future stability of the German energy market. Large quantities of primary energy can be stored in a way which is both environment-friendly and economical. The energy can be used whenever necessary.’
In Etzel (North Germany), IVG Caverns GmbH provides storage rooms for several companies. The storage volume is impressive: A single cavern with a hollow space volume of 600,000 m3 may provide the yearly amount of natural gas for
4,000 households.
The location benefits from a good traffic infrastructure combined with the possibility of connecting the field to the regional and the European pipeline system as well as to the deep water harbour in Wilhelmshaven (North Germany).
A subterranean “invisible” solution is preferred to solutions above ground level because of the dimensions of the project: The storage above ground would lead to an enormous land use and would request much more safety measures.
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Notes to editors
Grontmij is a leading sustainable design, engineering and management consultancy active in the growth markets of water, energy, transportation and sustainable planning and design. At the core of our business is the principle of sustainability by design that is a leading value proposition for our customers. Grontmij is the fourth largest engineering consultancy in Europe with almost 300 offices across the region and a further 50 offices globally. We employ over 11,000 professionals around the world.
Our value chain of services stretches from major renewable water and energy infrastruc-ture through designing efficient and environmentally-sensitive mobility and transportation networks to shaping our urban and green living spaces.
Whilst we are approaching our 100th anniversary, and benefit from the experience nearly a century provides, we prefer to look to the future to enhance the world we live in. By applying sustainability considerations to all our design, consultancy and management services right across the value chain, our highly-skilled, expert people are able to create lasting solutions that plan for, connect and respect the future.
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