EU: Commission welcomes report of transmission system operators for gas confirming EU preparedness for winter and beyond
Share
In its annual winter supply outlook published today, the European Network for Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG), confirmed the EU is well prepared for winter 2024-2025 and the following summer months. It points to high levels of gas storage across the EU and the stable security of supply situation overall.
As in previous years, the report tested the EU’s resilience against a number of scenarios where gas supply to the EU could be disrupted. This year’s report also analysed the impact of the end of the agreement on the transit of Russian gas via Ukraine, due to end after December 2024, as well as Turkstream.
Amongst its conclusions, the report confirms
- the EU maintains high levels of gas storage (94% or 1,083 TWh on 1 October 2024), remaining resilient in case of further disruptions to gas supply from Russia and limited supplies of LNG
- Europe could still reach 40% stock level (UGS) of gas at the end of the winter season, even without Russian pipeline gas
- even without Russian pipeline gas imports via Ukraine or Turkstream from 1 October 2024, the EU can reach 30% minimum storage levels at the end of the winter. This would ensure refilling next summer, while higher levels would provide further flexibility
Looking ahead to next summer, the report confirms the need to continue to prepare for subsequent winters by, for example, storing gas throughout the summer months and reducing gas demand. The EU continues to exceed its target of 90% gas storage filled across the EU by 1 November and 15% reduction in gas demand, reaching 18% last winter.
The report demonstrates the independence of the EU gas system from Russian pipeline supply and underlines the significant progress of the EU to phase out Russian fossil fuel imports in line with REPowerEU.
The publication of annual winter and summer supply outlook by ENTSOG is a requirement of EU Regulation 2024/1789 Article 26(3).