Gas: Storage operators warn of shortages in extreme cold

According to Ines, if there is an extremely cold winter, there will be a risk of supply bottlenecks. According to the association's new model calculations, there could be a shortage of up to 6.6 terawatt hours of natural gas per month in January, February and March 2027. This corresponds roughly to the gas consumption of one and a half winter days in Germany.

On individual days in January, the supply gap could even reach 1.7 terawatt hours in extreme temperatures, which would be around 40 percent of the average daily consumption in January 2026. An extremely cold winter like in 2010 is assumed.

Ines represents 17 gas and hydrogen storage operators, including SEFE, Uniper and VNG. Its members represent more than 90 percent of Germany's gas storage capacities. They also have an economic interest in greater use of storage, as they earn money from marketing their capacities.

Since November 1st, the storage facilities have continued to empty slightly. According to data from the European gas infrastructure association GIE, they were recently around 59 percent full. At the same time, natural gas prices continue to reach new highs. Since the start of the Iran war, the price of European gas has more than doubled. At the end of October it was around 100 euros per megawatt hour. After the Democrats' victory in the US midterm elections, which fueled hopes of easing tensions in the Persian Gulf, the price fell slightly again, to around 80 euros. Consumers are increasingly feeling the effects of higher prices. At gas stations, but also when heating. Find out here how expensive the energy winter could be for you.