Germany Enters Heating Season With Gas Storage 61.2% Full

Germany entered the heating season short of its Nov. 1 natural gas storage targets, with facilities about 61.2% full nationwide, while the Federal Network Agency assessed the risk of strained gas supply as low.

Most storage facilities were required to reach 80% by Nov. 1. Six designated sites had a lower target of 45%. Together, those requirements set a nationwide target of about 70%.

Sebastian Heinermann, managing director of Initiative Energien Speichern e. V. (INES), warned that Germany was entering the heating season with smaller safety reserves and could be vulnerable during exceptionally low temperatures.

The Federal Network Agency, Germany’s energy regulator, assessed the risk of strained gas supply as low. Storage is one factor in supply security. Pipeline and liquefied natural gas imports, infrastructure and demand also affect Germany’s ability to meet consumption.

Gas is generally put into storage during warmer months and withdrawn in winter to help balance seasonal demand. Germany has directed state-owned Securing Energy for Europe (SEFE) to add eight terawatt-hours of gas to storage by Dec. 15.