Transmission system operators report historically low storage levels

The transmission system operators (TSOs) have prepared their transmission infrastructure for the winter. The maximum possible import and transmission capacities to the storage facilities are available. The TSOs continuously monitor sales trends in the gas market to identify emerging problems at an early stage. Currently, they are observing only very low levels of gas being injected into Germany’s underground storage facilities. As of August 18, 2026, Germany’s storage facilities were only 50 percent full—a historic low for this time of year.

Critical Situation at Natural Gas Storage Facilities

Security of supply is a valuable asset and a key prerequisite for ensuring that industry, businesses, and consumers have a reliable supply of energy and heat at all times.

As a precaution, the FNB points out that the statutory target of 71 percent as of November 1, 2026, is virtually unattainable, even with gas injection of up to 1.2 TWh per day—the highest level ever observed in the market. Persistently high natural gas prices are removing the incentive for traders and suppliers to inject gas into storage. Currently, daily injection stands at less than 0.5 TWh. If this trend continues, the storage level as of the target date will be significantly below 71 percent, especially since injection capacity decreases as the storage facility fills up.

LNG alone is not enough

LNG cannot replace the role of storage facilities in the winter. Domestic LNG terminals can supply only just under 10 percent of the total demand from all customers on a typical winter day. Therefore, suppliers’ delivery volumes cannot be secured by LNG alone, but only through a combination of LNG and storage volumes. The FNB Gas presented a corresponding analysis in its report on supply security for 2026, published in May. According to the report, sufficiently filled storage facilities are indispensable for supply security.

Dr. Matthias Jenn, CEO of FNB Gas, on the current situation: “The responsibility for ensuring a secure supply lies with the market. Low LNG imports, late or prolonged cold spells, and infrastructure failures could jeopardize the gas supply this coming winter. LNG alone is not enough. When storage levels are critically low, the risk of supply shortfalls in the winter increases significantly. Legislators should therefore require traders to secure sufficient quantities through storage facilities until the end of winter.” .”

Facts and Figures

The role of the FNBs in the gas market is to plan, expand, and operate a secure and stable transmission network that ensures connections between storage facilities, import points, and customers. Since 2022, they have been working intensively to expand the transmission infrastructure for the integration of LNG in Germany. They continuously monitor sales trends in the gas market to identify emerging problems at an early stage. To this end, they also maintain dialogue with many other European transmission system operators, the relevant authorities, and the industry.

Storage Status:

• Storage level as of August 18, 2026: 50.06%

• The current reservoir level is the lowest it has been in at least 15 years in percentage terms, and the lowest since 2013 in absolute terms

• Current daily storage: approx. 0.5 TWh/day (7-day average).

• Although the maximum injection capacity exceeds 1.2 TWh, according to GIE AGSI, injection rates higher than 1.2 TWh/d have never been observed in the market (the only exception being 2022, when THE was instructed by the federal government to inject gas). In addition, the capacity for injection decreases as natural gas consumption rises (due to colder temperatures). This is because, as outdoor temperatures fall, the net surplus in the market steadily declines. Consequently, less natural gas is available for storage. This can limit storage capacity toward the end of the storage phase during the fall months of September through November.

Security of Supply 2026: https://versorgungssicherheit.fnb-gas.de/