Supply guaranteed – challenge with storage facilities

Security of supply was guaranteed throughout the winter of 2024/2025. “The transmission system operators made an important contribution by connecting the LNG terminals and the necessary expansion of the transmission system,” explains FNB Gas CEO Dr. Thomas Gößmann. The transmission system operators see a need for further action, particularly when it comes to filling storage facilities, and are therefore proposing a “combined natural gas supply security model”.

Once again this year, the transmission system operators (TSOs) look back on the winter from a gas and network management perspective. The winter of 2024/2025 was once again characterized by mild temperatures, albeit with several short periods of cold weather. Overall, sales in the heating market and industrial gas consumption increased again, although they still remained well below pre-crisis levels. Wholesale prices for natural gas reached a peak in February 2025, which was noticeably higher than the peak of the previous winter. Prices normalized again at the end of the winter.

Capacities: LNG imports and withdrawal capacity

In addition to the relatively mild winter, additional feed-ins from the LNG terminals meant that the security of supply of natural gas in Germany was not jeopardized at any time. Although LNG imports to Europe fell slightly, LNG and a well-developed infrastructure remain important for security of supply. The TSOs have made their contribution to connecting the terminals and the necessary expansion of the transmission network.

Throughout the winter, the available withdrawal capacity from the natural gas storage facilities remained sufficient and the storage levels were above the legally required minimum values at all times, meaning that no problems would have been expected even in a peak load situation during a cold spell. However, at the beginning of the year, gas storage facilities emptied faster than expected for the first time since the start of the energy crisis. A prolonged cold spell and the resulting increase in heating and power plant demand played a role in this.

Security of supply: Storage filling and proposal of the TSOs

Although the binding filling level targets at fixed dates made an important contribution to security of supply during the energy crisis, they led to market distortions at the beginning of 2025. This was particularly evident in the unusually negative summer/winter spreads. The previous German government reacted in good time with new filling level targets, thereby sending a signal for market-based storage filling for the coming winter. “The FNB believe this makes sense in the short term. However, we need long-term solutions”, says Barbara Fischer, Managing Director of FNB Gas.

The TSOs are therefore proposing a combined model for security of supply for natural gas with greater involvement and responsibility for the market. The model is characterized by the combination of two instruments: a storage-based security reserve and a supplier obligation to store gas for protected end consumers. As a result, storage would mainly be provided by the market. This would mean that no annual central instruments for the storage of natural gas would have to be traded.