Gas storage facilities in Germany can be completely filled before the coming winter
The German gas storage facilities in Germany are expected to be fully filled before the upcoming winter, according to the operators' assessments. If temperatures remain at "normal" or "warm" levels, there is no need to fear a gas shortage situation, Ines, the Initiative Energy Storage, announced on a Wednesday. However, if the winter turns out to be very cold, a shortage situation cannot be ruled out.
By November of this year, the gas storage facilities in Germany can be filled to 95% regardless of the temperature, Ines explained. Legal requirements will be met in this regard.
If the winter remains warm, like in Europe in 2020, or normal, like in 2016, the gas storage facilities will be drained to a level between 35% and 69% by the end of the winter in April 2025. In both scenarios, the statutory storage capacity of 40% in February 2025, according to Ines, will be met.
However, in the third scenario, things look different: "As in the last two winters, extremely cold temperatures will pose challenges for gas supply," Ines' business manager Sebastian Heinermann explained. "If it gets as cold as it did during the European winter of 2010, the gas storage facilities would already be completely drained in February."
The gas supply security, as it existed before the energy crisis, is "still not fully restored," the storage operators stated. Therefore, savings remain "a relevant topic" in the coming winter.
After the assessment of the operators, the German gas storage facilities are expected to be nearly fully filled by winter, reaching 95% capacity by November. Even if the winter is warm, the facilities will only be drained to a level between 35% and 69% by April 2025, still meeting the legal requirements. However, in the event of another extremely cold winter like 2010, the gas storage in Germany could be completely drained by February, posing challenges for the gas supply.
