The gas storage facilities in Germany are currently only slightly more than half full and are not expected to become much fuller until winter. In particularly cold temperatures, there is a risk of insufficient supplies and increased costs for consumers.

A few days ago, the Energy Storage Initiative (Ines) – a representative association of gas storage operators – warnedinsufficient filling levelsat German gas storage facilities. Currently, storage is only about 53 percent full, a historically low level. Normally, the storage tanks are usually over 95 percent full, explains Ine's managing director Sebastian Heinermann to Spiegel: "The filling level was almost always above 80 percent."

Now a maximum of 77 percent remains to be achieved, but even this goal seems unrealistic. Looking at the amount of gas that has been stored in recent weeks, it looks like the gas storage level will be at 63 percent at the start of the heating season.

Is there a risk of a stock shortage?

If 77 percent is still achieved, the amount of gas stored would be sufficient for an average winter. However, if particularly cold temperatures occur, the gas storage facilities could be completely empty by the end of January, according to Ines.

Overall, the gas supply is not completely secure. There are also various risks before the heating season. A failure of the North Sea pipeline from Norway to Germany could have catastrophic consequences. But there are still various smaller risks for the gas supply.

Nevertheless, you probably don't have to worry about heating your own home for the time being: private households are particularly protected in the event of a possible shortage. However, a shortage of supplies would have dire consequences for the industry, which in turn would have an impact on the entire economy. Prices could also skyrocket due to extremely low supply.

Hot autumn: gas prices are rising, inflation is increasing - but we are not carrying this crisis on our backs!

Economics Minister tries to appease

Meanwhile, the federal government is tryingto calm the situationand wants to convey that there is no reason to worry. Federal Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) said on Tuesday that 38 percent of the gas supply comes from Belgium and the Netherlands, 36 percent comes via pipeline from Norway and 18 percent arrives in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Since 2022, many new LNG terminals have been built, allowing more liquefied natural gas to be imported.

The federal government is also prepared “for every scenario” and has “prepared the appropriate instruments,” explains Reiche. Also ChancellorFriedrich Merz(CDU) recently spoke out against purchasing more gas in the budget debate in the Bundestag. This “would only lead to prices on the gas markets rising so much that we would no longer be able to pay the prices,” said Merz.

The statement that one can rely on LPG deliveries in an emergency is criticized from two sides. On the one hand, the gas storage association explainsInesthat only around 0.8 terawatt hours of gas could be absorbed by LNG terminals every day. At peak, however, you need five terawatt hours per day across Germany.

On the other hand, the Green Party's energy politician warnsMichael Waiterthat this would make them dependent on the USA. More than 90 percent of liquid gas deliveries to Germany come from the USA, and the average across Europe is also over 50 percent. So you have to rely on the unreliable American partner and run the risk of being blackmailed for political purposes, explains Kellner.

German imports of American natural gas are increasing

Higher costs for consumers possible

The background to the lack of gas storage supplies is the wars in Ukraine and Iran. While the former ensures that cheap Russian gas is no longer imported, the latter still ensures the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In addition to its importance for oil exports, this is also of great importance for liquid gas because it blocks the most important LNG export route from Qatar.

At least some of this is probably wrongCalculations of gas storage operatorsto be held responsible for the save states. Gas is typically cheaper in the summer, making storage more profitable. The hope for a quick end to the Iran war, which would have made this possible this year too, has not been confirmed.

The Ines association is now demanding that the federal government abolish the network fees for the storage and withdrawal of gas. This would make it cheaper to store gas and thus ensure fuller storage. However, these costs would be passed on to industry and private consumers - so gas prices would rise.

If there is ultimately a gas shortage, the federal government itself could step in and buy gas. This happened back in 2022 after the outbreak of the Ukraine war. However, the disadvantage is the same then as it is today: enormous gas prices for customers.

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