June 5, 2026
As the European Commission prepares its upcoming Energy Security Package, the debate is increasingly shifting beyond short-term filling targets towards the longer-term role of gas storage in safeguarding Europe against systemic shocks and supply disruptions.
A recent study conducted by Artelys and Compass Lexecon for Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) highlights that gas storage should no longer be viewed solely through the lens of volume targets, but as a strategic safeguard in an increasingly uncertain energy landscape.
At the heart of GIE’s proposal is a shift towards recognising the insurance value of storage. The organisation advocates for a flexible European “toolbox” of mechanisms designed to strengthen security of supply while allowing Member States to reflect their own energy mix, risk exposure and market design.
The study highlights that storage infrastructure plays a critical role in providing flexibility and deliverability at scale, enabling rapid response to supply disruptions, market volatility and extreme weather events. This comes at a pivotal moment, as discussions advance around the upcoming Energy Security of Supply Package and the longer-term role of gas storage in supporting Europe’s energy transition and resilience objectives.
While the EU Storage Regulation, introduced during the energy crisis, helped restore confidence and coordinate filling efforts, it remains largely focused on volume-based targets. According to GIE, this approach only partially captures the broader insurance value of storage.
A more refined framework would distinguish between commercial storage and security-driven reserves, allowing clearer price signals and better reflecting the value of resilience and flexibility. Such differentiation could ultimately support more efficient investment and allocation decisions.
Rather than prescribing a single solution, GIE’s proposed toolbox would allow Member States to combine a range of tailored measures aimed at strengthening security of supply, including:
“Europe’s gas storage remains one of the continent’s key security assets,” said Lucie Boost, Secretary General of GIE.
“As we continue filling storages ahead of next winter, policymakers must also look beyond short-term filling trajectories. The challenge is no longer only about how much gas is stored, but increasingly about recognising and preserving the flexibility and security that storage infrastructure provides to the energy system.”
This perspective is echoed by Charlotte Roule, President of Gas Storage Europe (GSE), who added: “At a critical moment in the energy transition, Europe needs to rethink how it values gas storage – from a volume obligation to a strategic asset underpinning resilience and security of supply.”
As Europe accelerates decarbonisation while remaining exposed to supply risks, GIE argues that a smarter approach to storage could help reconcile security of supply with industrial competitiveness – two objectives often seen as competing.
The upcoming Energy Security Package offers an important opportunity to establish a more durable framework capable of strengthening Europe’s preparedness while preserving well-functioning energy markets. As discussions on Europe’s future security of supply framework continue, the debate over how to value and design gas storage is set to become a central pillar of Europe’s energy resilience strategy.
For further information on the proposals outlined in the press release:
Carlos Buatas | Communications Manager | carlos.buatas@gie.eu
Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) is the association representing the interests of European gas infrastructure operators active in gas transmission, gas storage and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) regasification. GIE is a trusted partner of European institutions, regulatory bodies and industry stakeholders. It is based in Brussels, the heart of European policymaking. GIE currently represents 72 member companies from 25 countries. GIE’s vision is that by 2050, the gas infrastructure will be the backbone of the new innovative energy system, allowing European citizens to benefit from a secure, efficient and sustainable energy supply.
