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From what I have heard the fact that European gas storage is full is nice but not really all that meaningful. The gas storage is only large enough to last a week or something in that magnitude.



The EU gas storage is actually around 2 months.

Full capacity is ~1000TWh[0], while winter monthly consumption is around 450 TWh[1].

In other words, way more than a week, and yes, the storage does make a meaningful difference.

[0]: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1294025/quarterly-gas-in...

[1]: https://energy.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2022-04/Quarterly%2...


Perhaps you're thinking of the UK? The UK only has the gas storage capacity for nine days of gas.

Some other European countries have enough gas storage for months - the Netherlands has 123 days of gas stored [1]

[1] https://www.energylivenews.com/2022/10/31/uk-has-nine-days-o...


The German storage facilities hold gas for two months of typical January consumption rates.



(For non German speakers: that linked article's main point is that the gas in German storage may be sent to other European countries, it's not all reserved for the German market.)

As a German, I'm perfectly fine with the reserves serving Europe and not just Germany. Even if/when we run low and have to suffer a bit.

After all, we expect the same from others, that they help us out if they have some and we don't. Energy markets in Europe are connected, for electricity too.

A picture: https://old.reddit.com/r/hardenergy/comments/2d4sgy/natural_...


in a national emergency situation can't the government just take it and pay fair market value despite who owns it?


The German government has already taken action several times during this crisis.




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