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Germany’s Gas Storage Near Half Full as Deep Freeze Drives Up Heating Bills

Industry groups warn a prolonged cold spell could exhaust reserves despite added LNG capacity.

Overview

  • National storage fell from 51.80% on January 7 to 47.35% on January 10 per AGSI+, leaving inventories roughly 47–52% full in mid-January.
  • The Bundesnetzagentur and major suppliers say supply is stable with adequate pipeline and LNG import capacity, and wholesale gas trades near €30–31/MWh.
  • Sustained cold, elevated household and industrial demand, and weak wind and solar output are accelerating withdrawals and lifting gas‑fired power generation.
  • Muted summer–winter price spreads, operating costs and relaxed legal fill targets limited 2025 injections; a Frontier Economics study proposes a dedicated strategic reserve.
  • Households face higher costs: Techem projects average 2025 heating bills up 8.6% nationwide and Verivox estimates gas‑heated homes pay about 13% more, with larger increases in states such as Baden‑Württemberg and Bavaria.