{
  "id": 6231768,
  "title": "Energie: Neue Daten zeigen: Bei sehr kaltem Winter droht Kunden ein Gasmangel",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/energie-neue-daten-zeigen-bei-sehr-kaltem-winter-droht-kunden-ein",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-08T04:18:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/energie/energie-neue-daten-bei-kaltem-winter-droht-kunden-ein-gasmangel/100252697.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Deutsche gas storage facilities are dangerously low, with the latest data from the German gas storage association INES revealing that the current fill level of 53% is the lowest seen in 15 years for this time of year. The situation is so critical that even filling the storage to its maximum possible level of 77% by November 1st is only achievable if more gas is stored in the next two months compared to the previous three months combined – a situation that is highly unlikely. Even if the 77% level were reached, Germany could still face severe challenges during the winter. During normal temperatures, storage levels would only drop to 38% by April 1st. However, in a very cold winter similar to the one experienced in 2010, storage could be completely empty by January, leading to gas shortages on certain days and leaving physically insufficient gas available for all gas customers. Gas prices have been at their highest in four years, with gas now costing almost two and a half times more than it did at the beginning of the Iran war. The problem arises during extremely cold days when Germany requires a large amount of gas all at once, but the gas can only be supplied to the gas network via limited liquid natural gas terminals. To meet the demand quickly, additional deliveries from the gas storage facilities are necessary, which is only possible if the storage pressure is high enough. However, with storage levels at their lowest, this is no longer the case. Low storage levels are increasingly causing political pressure. Last Wednesday, a spokesperson for the German Federal Ministry of Economy told journalists, \"Based on current knowledge, a gas shortage is not expected in the coming winter.\" However, the situation is more serious than it was during last year's winter. INES warns that the further filling of gas storage facilities depends on whether additional measures are taken. Due to current prices, it is currently not profitable for gas traders to store gas, as they would not make a profit when selling it during the winter. INES therefore proposes making storage more attractive, such as by lowering net charges at storage connection points or by abolishing the so-called conversion reserve for storage usage, which covers the costs of adjusting between different gas qualities. However, the government now has very few options left to increase gas storage levels. At this late stage, direct government storage would likely cause very high gas prices due to a sudden surge in demand, even though gas prices are already at their highest in four years.",
  "summary": "Laut dem Gasspeicherverband INES reichen die Gasreserven nur bei normalen Temperaturen über den Winter. Bei großer Kälte wird es für Unternehmen und Bevölkerung kritisch.",
  "key_points": [
    "German gas storage at 53% fill level, lowest in 15 years",
    "77% fill level by Nov 1st unlikely without more gas storage",
    "Storage could be empty by Jan in severe winter like 2010"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Germany's critically low gas storage levels, even if maximised, threaten a gas shortage in a very cold winter, putting pressure on the government to intervene to avert supply challenges.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}