In December, when it was really cold, you could see how quickly gas storage levels can drop. The situation has now calmed down. Nevertheless, the Federal Network Agency does not want to give the all-clear.
Despite well-filled gas storage facilities, the Federal Network Agency maintains its call for savings. “Frugal gas consumption remains important,” wrote the authority in its daily status report. A gas shortage is becoming increasingly unlikely this winter. However, a worsening of the situation cannot be ruled out.
The President of the Authority, Klaus Müller, tweeted that with a view to the winter of 2023/2024, savings of 20 percent would be needed compared to consumption in the years 2018 to 2021.
Meanwhile, the lower temperatures in the German storage facilities are causing levels to fall again. For the second day in a row, they fell by more than half a percentage point, according to preliminary data from the European gas storage association GIE on Thursday.
On Wednesday morning, the level was 89.3 percent. The largest German storage facility in Rehden, Lower Saxony, recently recorded a level of 90.3 percent. Across the EU, the filling level was 80.6 percent, almost 0.5 points less than the day before.
The fill levels have been declining since January 9th. Before that, the balance had been stored for more than two weeks – which is atypical for the time of year.
buffer for the market
The storage facilities balance out fluctuations in gas consumption and are therefore a buffer for the market. The filling levels usually decrease after the start of the heating period in autumn. On the morning of November 14, a fill level of 100 percent was recorded. On February 1, according to the Energy Industry Act, the storage tanks should still be 40 percent full.
In addition, gas continues to flow permanently through pipeline imports to Germany, according to the Federal Network Agency on Tuesday from Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Denmark. Germany now also receives natural gas via the new LNG terminals in Wilhelmshaven and Lubmin in Western Pomerania.
According to the network agency, consumption in the second calendar week was around a third below the average value for the years 2018 to 2021, as in the week before. Industry needed 35 percent less natural gas. Households and businesses need 33 percent less. The network agency expects consumption to increase this week because of the temperatures.
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
