German gas industry association allays concerns over storage levels

Germany’s gas storage facilities are over 70 percent full, putting a reliable energy supply for the upcoming winter on stable footing, said the German Gas and Hydrogen Industry association. Over 80 percent of gas storage capacity in the country has already been marketed, it added, arguing that "supply security is guaranteed for the coming winter."

For weeks, politicians and storage operators have warned that levels have been much lower than in recent years. If the situation continued, a very cold winter 2025/26 could result in a shortage by as early as the end of January next year, the operators said in July. Storage levels vary widely across the country. While some facilities are almost full, others remain at low levels. The storage in Rehden in Lower Saxony, Germany’s largest facility with a total capacity for almost four billion cubic metres of gas, is 25 percent filled. Storage levels in Rehden were also low at the outbreak of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The war and the energy crisis caused energy prices to skyrocket across Germany and Europe.  

In addition to continuous imports and a small share of domestic production, gas storage is indispensable to cover a higher consumption through heating during Germany’s winter months. Therefore, the country has binding minimum storage levels for gas facilities. By 1 November, storages have to be filled by 80 percent. 

Following the halt of gas deliveries from Russia in August 2022, in the aftermath of the country’s invasion of Ukraine, Germany scrambled to find alternative sources to fill its storages to avoid gas shortages over the previous winters. Germany has since ensured stockpiles are full, increased capacities for alternative imports by setting up liquefied natural gas (LNG) import infrastructure, and put emergency plans in place. 

Germany begins filling its gas storage facilities around May. The government recently lowered the country’s gas supply alert to the lowest level.