Business · Energy & Commodities · 1 hr ago
German gas storage operators warn of winter shortages in extreme cold
Germany’s gas storage association says stores were only 61% full, a historically low level, and had fallen to about 59% by its latest cited data.
It warns that an extremely cold winter could strain supplies.
In its models, gas shortages could reach 6.6 terawatt-hours a month from January to March 2027, even after allowing for extra imports from neighbouring countries and full use of available LNG terminal capacity.
The association represents operators holding more than 90% of Germany’s gas storage capacity and is calling for a state gas reserve or incentives or rules to encourage storage.
Germany’s regulator sees the risk as low, saying the country can draw on additional imports and is not necessarily dependent on meeting storage targets.
The association says a winter as cold as 2010 is considered unlikely, and that supplies should be secure in normal or mild weather.
Germany’s gas storage operators have warned that extreme cold could cause supply shortfalls this winter.
The industry group INES said German storage was recently 61% full, a historically low level.
Its models project possible monthly shortfalls of up to 6.6 terawatt-hours in January, February and March 2027.
INES says the estimates already include additional imports from neighbouring European countries and full use of booked LNG terminal capacity.
Germany’s Federal Network Agency considers the risk of tight gas supplies low, citing additional import options.
- Who
- The Initiative Energien Speichern (INES), an industry group representing gas and hydrogen storage operators, issued the warning.
- What
- INES warned that extreme cold could lead to gas supply shortfalls in Germany. The Federal Network Agency considers the risk of tight supplies low.
- When
- The warning was reported on 10 November 2026. The projected shortfalls cover January, February and March 2027.
- Where
- Germany.
- Why
- INES said storage levels were historically low and warned that extreme cold could raise demand enough to cause shortfalls.
Initiative Energien Speichern (INES)
Federal Network Agency
Storage levels
Initiative Energien Speichern (INES)
INES said storage was at a historically low level and posed a significant risk to supply security.
Federal Network Agency
The agency considers the risk of tight gas supplies low.
Supply outlook
Initiative Energien Speichern (INES)
INES modelled possible shortfalls during an extremely cold winter, even accounting for additional imports and full use of booked LNG terminal capacity.
Federal Network Agency
The agency said Germany is no longer necessarily reliant on meeting storage targets because of additional import options.
German gas storage levels had begun to decline further, according to the article.
Spiegel reported INES’s warning about possible supply shortfalls in an extremely cold winter.
INES models project possible monthly gas shortfalls of up to 6.6 terawatt-hours.
- German storage level
- 61% full in the latest figure cited by INES
- Later storage level
- Around 59% full, according to GIE data cited in the article
- Projected monthly shortfall
- Up to 6.6 terawatt-hours in January, February and March 2027
- Projected daily shortfall
- Up to 1.7 terawatt-hours on individual January days in extreme temperatures
- INES membership
- 17 gas and hydrogen storage operators
- Share of German storage capacity represented by INES members
- More than 90%
What people are saying
Low storage levels pose a significant risk to security of supply