{"id":16490,"date":"2026-05-27T08:42:27","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T06:42:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fnb-gas.de\/news\/natural-gas-storage-facilities-remain-indispensable-fnb-gas-publishes-security-of-supply-report-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T09:03:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T07:03:34","slug":"natural-gas-storage-facilities-remain-indispensable-fnb-gas-publishes-security-of-supply-report-2026","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/fnb-gas.de\/en\/news\/natural-gas-storage-facilities-remain-indispensable-fnb-gas-publishes-security-of-supply-report-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Natural gas storage facilities remain indispensable: FNB Gas publishes Security of Supply Report 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The German transmission system operators (FNB Gas) have presented their report on security of supply for the first time. The report looks back on the winter of 2025\/2026 and analyzes the overall situation in the LNG market. It shows: Even with growing LNG capacities, natural gas storage facilities remain the decisive instrument for safeguarding security of supply against exogenous shocks. FNB Gas is therefore pushing for the implementation of a combination model that combines a storage-based security reserve with a supplier obligation. <\/strong> <\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the German Weather Service (DWD), the winter of 2025\/2026 was again too warm overall. Nevertheless, the total heat demand increased slightly compared to the previous year. The comparatively cold January was the main reason for this. <\/p>\n\n

During the cold spell in January, exports to Switzerland and Austria reached maximum withdrawal capacity on individual days. The storage facilities had to close the gap: In the meantime, withdrawals contributed over 3 TWh\/d to the supply. This corresponds to more than 50 percent of the volume injected during the most demand-intensive phases. For comparison: German LNG terminals could supply a maximum of 8.5 percent of the feed-in volume on such days. <\/p>\n\n

“The figures from last winter speak for themselves: if you want security of supply in the future, there is no way around a new storage <\/em> system<\/em>,” <\/em>says Dr. Matthias Jenn, CEO of FNB Gas. <\/p>\n\n

Geopolitical shocks change the market logic<\/strong> <\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

The German natural gas market has changed fundamentally since the 2022 energy crisis: from a pipeline market to an LNG-based market. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the halt to Qatari LNG production at the end of February 2026 are exposing new risks. Blockades of supply routes or the loss of supplier countries could jeopardize supply. Alternative LNG deliveries from the USA, for example, have a lead time of two to six weeks, depending on the delivery route. As a result, gas prices rose by 64% by the end of March. <\/p>\n\n

The transmission system operators draw a fundamental conclusion from this: the previous principle – buying cheap gas in summer and storing it in order to consume it in the expensive winter (the so-called “summer-winter spread”) – will no longer function reliably as an incentive to fill storage facilities in future. They therefore consider a reassessment of the filling process and corresponding precautions to be imperative. <\/p>\n\n

Storage remains indispensable as a flexibility instrument<\/strong> <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Around two thirds of German gas consumption occurs in the winter months. Around 175 TWh of working gas volume is required for seasonal balancing. The peak winter demand was around 6 TWh per day. At the same time, imports to Germany could contribute a maximum of around 3 TWh per day under realistic grid conditions. At peak times, over 50 percent of the supply therefore had to be covered from gas storage facilities. Exogenous shocks also require a strategic reserve that cannot be anticipated by the market. <\/p>\n\n

The FNB gas combination model: market-based and system-safe<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n

Following the winter of 2024\/2025, the TSOs proposed a two-part combination model for security of supply that combines market mechanisms and regulatory safeguards. In light of the latest geopolitical developments, its implementation appears all the more urgent. <\/p>\n\n

1. storage-based security reserve: 24 TWh – all year round<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n

A defined proportion of the working gas volume is permanently withdrawn from the market and kept as a strategic reserve for exogenous shocks – such as the failure of an import infrastructure. <\/p>\n\n

2. supplier obligation: 63 TWh – as of February 1 of each year<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n

Suppliers are obliged to ensure a defined minimum fill level by February 1 of each year. This creates market incentives for timely storage. <\/p>\n\n

Jenn is convinced: “With our model, we are sharpening the responsibilities of all market participants for security of supply. The depth of intervention is limited to what is necessary.”<\/em> <\/p>\n\n

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