On 8 February 2024, the Initiative Energien Speichern e.V. (INES) published the February update on the association's own gas scenarios. It shows that the average temperatures in the months of winter 2023/2024 have so far been above the assumed normal temperatures.
In November and December 2023 in particular, there were therefore only lower withdrawals. The statutory filling level target of 40% by 1 February 2024 was clearly exceeded at 75% despite a cold spell in January. The gas storage level remains above the historical average.
Gas consumption rose significantly in January 2024 due to a cold spell. To cover demand, around a third of the monthly average gas volume was supplied from gas storage facilities. However, even in extremely cold temperatures, the gas storage facilities are no longer expected to be emptied on a large scale. The low point in the INES gas scenario “cold winter” is reached in mid-March and is 28%.
Complete refilling of the gas storage facilities before the coming winter of 2024/2025 is possible regardless of the assumed temperatures.
INES Managing Director Sebastian Heinermann comments on the publication of the February update as follows “The short cold spell in January clearly showed us how quickly gas consumption rises when it gets really cold. During the cold spell in January, more than half of the gas required in Germany was supplied from storage facilities. The use of gas storage facilities in January showed that they not only reliably keep the gas supply system in balance, but are also basically the only flexibility available when major fluctuations in consumption occur.”
