The gas consumption of German households and businesses has jumped with the first autumn frosts, a “disappointing” finding, said Thursday the head of the Federal Network Agency, urging
to save energy to avoid a shortage this winter.
During the week of September 19, average consumption climbed to 483 GWh, significantly higher than the average for the years 2018 to 2021 over the same period (422 GWh per week), according to the institution’s weekly report.
“This week’s figures are very disappointing. It will be difficult to avoid a shortage situation this winter without considerable savings,” reacted Klaus Müller, head of the Bundesnetzagentur in a statement.
A decrease in overall gas consumption of at least 20% is necessary this winter to prevent any risk of shortage, he said.
“Last week was certainly colder than the same period last year (…)” but “savings will also have to be made even when temperatures continue to fall and this is not done alone,” he insisted.
Homes and small businesses account for about 40% of gas consumption in Germany and have so far contributed “little” to reducing consumption, the agency notes.
In industry, which accounts for the remaining 60%, the Agency noted savings in August and in the past week. Many companies have had to cut back on production due to the prohibitive cost of energy.
In Germany, more than half of the population uses gas to heat their homes, as the country has relied for many years on this fuel, which was supplied to it by Russia at low cost.
But the outbreak of the Russian war in Ukraine and the reduction, then the halt, of gas deliveries to Europe have forced Europe’s largest economy to buy gas elsewhere, at much higher prices, which poses a serious threat to its economic model.
On a positive note, however, the country’s gas reserves now stand at 91.5%, the report says. Despite this good level of tank filling, however, the country must meet three conditions to get through the winter without being cold.
Plans to increase gas imports will have to be realized, supplies must also remain stable in neighboring countries and finally “gas must be saved even when it gets colder in winter,” Müller listed.
Norway has become Germany’s leading gas supplier in recent months and Germany has also accelerated its plans to import liquefied natural gas.
