Energy - Gas storage operators: will get through winter well
According to natural gas storage operators, Germany will get through the winter well in terms of gas supply as long as there are no extremely low temperatures. "Although gas shortages still cannot be completely ruled out, they are less likely to occur," said the industry association Ines (Initiative Energien Speichern) when presenting its new forecasts in Berlin. Mild temperatures in November had improved the initial situation for the rest of the winter, explained Ines Managing Director Sebastian Heinermann.
Since November 21, more gas has been withdrawn from storage than injected in order to cover the sharp rise in gas consumption due to the temperature. However, due to the moderate temperatures, the stored gas volumes were only used to a limited extent for supply in November. "As a result, Germany was able to start December with an above-average fill level of 96%."
Temperatures are crucial
If temperatures remain warmer as the winter progresses, the storage facilities will continue to be used only moderately. "In warm temperatures, the gas storage level could have already reached its lowest level of 71% by the end of January." In medium to cold temperatures, on the other hand, gas storage facilities are used extensively or even heavily.
The gas storage facilities compensate for fluctuations in gas consumption and thus form a buffer system for the market. The filling levels usually decrease in winter and increase again at the end of the heating period. At 100 percent full, the amount of natural gas stored in the storage facilities corresponds to the consumption of two to three average cold winter months. On Wednesday morning, the storage facilities in Germany were 91.6 percent full, with a downward trend.
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Source: www.stern.de
