The claim
“The capacity of German storage is around 250 TWh [terawatt hours, i.e. Ed.]. 90 percent of this is 225 TWh. From Oct 20 to Mar 21, 632 TWh was consumed. The gas storage tanks will therefore be filled until around Christmas.”
Our conclusion
By November 1, 2022, the gas storage facilities must be 95% full by law. With average consumption, this amount would be sufficient until the beginning of January 2023. What was not taken into account when making the claim, however, is that Germany continues to import gas even in winter.
However, important facts are not taken into account: the legally required storage reserves and the fact that it is possible to continue importing gas even in winter. So how long will the gas last?
Gas storage capacity claims
Among some claims on the internet, one could also be found on Twitter in which a user wrote on September 30, 2022 that although the German gas riches were well filled, the capacity was not sufficient to supply Germany with gas throughout the entire winter :

“The capacity of German storage is around 250 TWh [terawatt hours, i.e. Ed.]. 90 percent of this is 225 TWh. From Oct 20 to Mar 21, 632 TWh was consumed. The gas storage tanks will therefore be filled until around Christmas.”
Legal storage targets in Germany
According to the Energy Industry Act, it is specified exactly how much gas must be contained in German storage facilities. The storage targets from paragraph 35 , which is entitled “Fill level specifications for gas storage systems and ensuring security of supply”, were increased at the end of July this year by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection . Accordingly, the gas storage facilities had to be 75% full on September 1st, 85% on October 1st and 95% on November 1st. According to current data from AGSI, Germany had already exceeded this value in mid-October. On October 20th the fill level was 96.49%.
Nevertheless, it only makes sense to calculate how long the gas will last once the first of November has passed. At the time of the Twitter post at the end of September, the user was not yet able to carry out an adequate calculation because the gas storage facilities were being filled further during October.
Continuous gas purchasing – gas lasts longer than Christmas
According to calculations and research by Correctiv, if the storage target is reached on November 1st, the gas would last longer than just until Christmas. Federal Economics and Climate Minister Robert Habeck also commented on the topic at the federal press conference on October 12th , saying that Germany can be supplied with the amount of gas stored for two and a half months in an average winter. That would be from November 1st, i.e. until around mid-January.
It must also be noted that Germany continually purchases gas and therefore does not have to rely exclusively on storage capacities. This means it is possible that the resources will last another month or two longer. Current calculations reveal more details.
Call to save gas: The entire 2033/2023 heating season is not covered
With a fill level of 95% as of November 1st, there are around 233 terawatt hours (TWh) in the German gas tanks. Looking at data from recent years, it appears that an average of 3,483 gigawatt hours (GWh) were consumed in November and 3,818 gigawatt hours (GWh) in December. Extrapolated, Germany would consume around 196,122 GWh by Christmas, meaning there would still be over 30 TWh in the tanks.
According to data from the Federal Network Agency, gas consumption from May to September 2022 was below the average consumption for the years 2018 to 2021. If consumption continues to be below average, the amount of gas stored could last even longer this year.

However, the graphic also shows that average consumption like in the years 2018 - 2021 would lead to a gas shortage at the end of the heating season in spring 2023. The more optimistic scenarios also point to this problem, as the Science Media Center, which designed the graphic, explains: "Without gas savings, all scenarios lead to a gas shortage over the course of the winter, even the optimistic ones."
That's why the federal government is currently calling for people to save gas in order to survive the heating season without a gas shortage: "We urgently need to save money. Together with the many other measures we have taken, this can help prevent a gas shortage in winter would then affect everyone here in Germany,” writes Susanne Ungrad, press spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, to Correctiv .
Additional measure: expansion of gas imports over the winter
The post and the claim on Twitter ignored the fact that Germany will continue to receive gas deliveries over the winter.
Habeck also mentioned in the press conference that Germany will put its liquid gas terminals in Brunsbüttel and Wilhelmshaven into operation at the turn of the year, thereby creating additional capacities for gas imports. The “Dutch capacities” should also be expanded.
A large part of the gas is currently purchased by Germany from Norway and the Netherlands. Furthermore, according to a report by the FAZ, a so-called solidarity agreement with France. The point is that Germany has promised to export more electricity to France, as many nuclear reactors are maintained there. In return, Germany should receive gas.
Susanne Ungrad informs that Germany is currently already purchasing liquid gas from the loading points in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Dunkirk, France.
the Federal Network Agency, between 3,100 and 3,500 GWh have been imported every day in October However, it is still unclear from which countries Germany will purchase how much gas in the winter.
Conclusion
By November 1, 2022, the gas storage facilities must be 95% full by law. With average consumption, this amount would be sufficient until the beginning of January 2023. What was not taken into account when making the claim, however, is that Germany continues to import gas even in winter.
Author: Nick L.
Also read: Gas shortage: Are direct heating systems an alternative?
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