According to the latest figures published today by Gas Infrastructure Europe, the EU has achieved its target of filling gas storage facilities to 90% of capacity, more than two months ahead of the November 1st deadline. This achievement is on par with last year, when EU countries reached the 90% target on August 18th. Aiming to optimize preparations for the EU's winter heating season, the June 2022 Gas Storage Regulation (EU/2022/1032) set a binding EU target to fill storage facilities to 90% by November 1st each year, and interim targets for EU countries to ensure stable filling throughout the year. Gas storage is important for the security of European energy supplies, as it can cover up to one-third of the EU's gas demand in the winter season. According to the figures published today, gas storage levels reached 1,025 TWh, or 90.02% of storage capacity (equivalent to just under 92 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas), on August 19th.
EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said:
“Today, we have reached 90% of our winter gas storage capacity target – for the second year in a row, well ahead of the November 1st deadline. This highlights the EU's preparedness for the coming winter, building on intensive efforts over the past two and a half years. The Commission will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that gas storage levels remain sufficiently high in the coming months, while also continuing to focus on improving energy efficiency and promoting the deployment of renewable energies. I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight the much more difficult situation in Ukraine, whose energy sector is under intense and constant attack from Russia. Europe must continue to support Ukraine and provide the necessary support to its energy system so that its people can also safely survive the harsh winter ahead.”
The gas storage restrictions were one of a wide range of measures taken by the EU to better prepare the European energy system for the winter season, following the energy crisis caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This also included emergency rules on gas demand reduction. Under the REPowerEU plan, the EU also took further steps to reduce the EU's dependence on Russian fossil fuel imports. This includes securing alternative energy supplies as well as aiming to accelerate the deployment of renewables and energy efficiency/energy saving measures. In practice, this is witnessing a major shift towards liquefied natural gas (LNG), with the US being the EU's main supplier. Norway has become the EU's main supplier of pipeline gas.
