{
  "id": 6231771,
  "title": "Energieversorgung: Verband: Komplett leere Gasspeicher im Februar sind möglich",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/energieversorgung-verband-komplett-leere-gasspeicher-im-februar-sind",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-08T04:00:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/energieversorgung-verband-komplett-leere-gasspeicher-im-februar-sind-moeglich/100252756.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "According to a paper by Germany's Gas Storage Association Ines, the country's gas storage facilities could be completely empty by early February if the winter is exceptionally cold. The estimation begins with the fill level on November 1st being at 77 percent. If the winter is warm or normally cold, the stored gas is expected to be sufficient according to the models. However, in the case of a very cold winter like 2010, the storage capacities would not be enough, warns the initiative Energien Speichern (Ines). Gas storage facilities are just one leg of the energy supply for industry and households. New liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals along Germany's coasts, installed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, can quickly provide extra capacity from the world market. Moreover, Germany gets gas through pipelines, such as from Norway. If it becomes apparent that the gas storage will be dangerously low, extra capacities from the world market would be purchased, although this would be expensive. Currently, gas storage facilities are only about half full. On September 6th, the level was around 54 percent, which is about 19 percentage points lower than a year earlier. By November 1st, the storage could be filled up to a maximum of 77 percent - more than that would not be technically possible. To reach the 77 percent, the slow filling rate would have to significantly increase, according to the association. Gas companies, according to the estimates, have a storage share of 83 percent. The fact that they leave a part of their paid storage capacity unused highlights the difficult situation: Gas prices are already high in the summer, making the old gas storage business model of buying cheap in summer and selling expensive in winter unprofitable. High gas prices are due to the Iran war and other global upheavals. Gas operators have placed a request for paper on the table. Gas storage facility operators are calling on the government for easing and incentives to make storage more attractive. \"Storage filling must be economically viable for market players to actually realize it,\" says Ines Managing Director Sebastian Heinermann. The Federal Network Agency says that a combination of pipeline imports, storage, LNG imports, infrastructure, and demand is crucial for supply security. The agency also points out that storage filling is fundamentally a task for gas traders. \"They have delivery obligations to utilities, suppliers, industry, and other customers and must adequately secure themselves,\" says the Federal Network Agency. The gas supply in Germany is stable and the supply security is currently ensured.",
  "summary": "Der Herbst steht vor der Tür, die Heizsaison beginnt bald. Wird das Gas reichen für den Winter? Die Gasspeicher sind mäßig gefüllt. Doch es gibt ja noch andere Bezugsquellen.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "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."
}