The EU has actively taken measures to ensure the security of natural gas supply during the 2022–2023 heating season.

Second, a 9% reduction in demand would maintain EU gas storage levels at 38% of their capacity; if liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies also decline, storage levels would fall to 25% of capacity. Third, saving 13% of natural gas would keep EU countries’ storage levels at 45% of their working storage capacity; if LNG imports simultaneously decrease, the level would drop to 33%. Considering the peaks in EU natural gas consumption observed in 2018 and 2021, and assuming a 30% reduction in industrial natural gas demand, the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that peak-day natural gas demand during the 2022–2023 heating season will reach 2.4 billion cubic meters. Thus, if storage levels fall below 30% of working storage capacity during this period, the risk of physical natural gas shortages in the EU will increase. (III) Solidarity, unified action, and responsible consumer behavior are crucial to ensuring Europe’s safe passage through winter. As the Russia-Ukraine war escalates further, Europe’s natural gas supply security faces unprecedented risks. Prior to the 2022–2023 heating season, a complete cutoff of Russian gas supplies cannot be ruled out. During the heating season, nearly half of the EU’s natural gas consumption is used for residential and commercial heating—demand that is closely tied to temperature fluctuations. Due to the high sensitivity of heating demand to temperature, Europe’s natural gas system will be at its most vulnerable during this period. The IEA concludes, based on the above analysis, that maintaining sufficient natural gas storage levels—no lower than 33% of working storage capacity—until the end of the heating season is essential for a secure and reliable winter. Higher storage levels would also ease the pressure on refilling storage facilities during summer 2023, potentially alleviating tensions in the natural gas market. Storage levels below this threshold may prove insufficient to cope with extreme cold spells similar to those experienced across Europe in March 2018. The IEA notes that EU storage levels will depend heavily on the evolution of demand-side factors and the availability of natural gas supplies from key sources—particularly LNG flows into Europe. Rapidly expanding regasification capacity offers additional potential for increasing LNG imports, but does not guarantee higher LNG supply volumes. Colder winter weather, stronger-than-expected economic recovery in Northeast Asia, and unplanned disruptions could collectively increase global natural gas demand, thereby partially or fully diverting LNG away from Europe during winter—and accelerating the depletion of underground storage. Under conditions of relatively high LNG inflows, a 9% reduction in natural gas demand—relative to the five-year average consumption level—is required to maintain inventory levels above 35%; under low LNG inflow conditions, demand must be reduced by 13% to sustain inventory levels above 33%. Therefore, implementing natural gas conservation measures, minimizing inventory drawdown, and maintaining adequate stockpiles before the end of the heating season are critical to ensuring the EU’s energy security this winter. Coordinated action among European countries is vital to preventing severe natural gas shortages. The IEA recommends: further reducing industrial natural gas demand (e.g., via auctions); minimizing natural gas consumption in the power sector; lowering natural gas use in buildings (e.g., by enforcing lower heating standards); strengthening coordination among gas and electricity operators across Europe to safeguard supply security for both fuels; and enhancing cooperation among EU member states and neighboring countries to ensure natural gas supply resilience in the face of supply and/or demand shocks.

EU natural gas storage reached 95% before winter.

Data from European gas infrastructure companies show that EU natural gas storage has reached 95% of full capacity. Earlier, the bloc achieved its self-imposed binding deadline target of filling storage facilities to 90% capacity by 1 November—reaching that milestone in August. In mid-August—10 weeks before the 1 November deadline—the EU achieved its goal of filling gas storage facilities to 90% of capacity. Two months earlier, the European Commission stated that this achievement matched last year’s performance, when EU countries reached the 90% target on 18 August. Now, as the heating season begins, EU storage facilities are filled to 95%. Data indicate that this year’s storage level is slightly lower than last year’s, but higher than the average level between 2017 and 2021, and also higher than the 2022 storage level. Major economies and gas markets—including Germany and Italy—have filled their storage facilities to over 97%, while Austria—which still relies on pipeline gas flows from Russia—reached a storage level of 93.73% by the end of this weekend.

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German energy firm SEFE has independently increased natural gas storage levels to secure winter reserves amid Europe's lowest inventories in years. Rising prices and supply disruptions drive the move as governments rely on market incentives rather than direct state purchases.

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SEFE Boosts Gas Storage to Secure Winter Reserves

SEFE Boosts Gas Storage to Secure Winter Reserves

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