April 9, 2026
Renewed geopolitical tensions and continued volatility in global energy markets are once again bringing Europe’s preparedness for the coming winter into focus.
A key challenge is resurfacing: current market conditions, characterised by low or negative summer-winter price spreads, are not providing sufficient incentives for early and steady gas injections. This weak link between market outcomes and the insurance function of storage comes at a time when systemic risks are increasing and when the gas and power systems are becoming more interdependent, despite the proven importance of high storage levels for system resilience in recent winters.
Europe’s gas infrastructure, including transmission networks, LNG regasification terminals and storage facilities, is structurally adequate and not a limiting factor for security of supply, provided it remains fully available and operational. These infrastructures form a reinforcing system: LNG terminals ensure access to global gas supplies and system optionality, transmission networks enable flows across regions, and storage provides deliverability at high withdrawal rates, flexibility, and protection against shocks (notably during cold spells, periods of low renewables generation, or supply disruptions).
As of 1 April 2026, EU gas storage levels stood at around 28% (approximately 314 TWh / 29 bcm), significantly lower than in the previous three years and broadly in line with pre-crisis levels. In this context, GIE welcomes the latest ENSTOG Summer Outlook 2026, which highlights the importance of securing sufficient LNG imports and making full use of the injection period to refill storages ahead of next winter.
What is the impact of the current situation?
Europe’s gas infrastructure continues to operate reliably, underpinning security of supply across the continent. Yet in the current market environment, price signals alone may not be sufficient to attract LNG imports and drive the pace of storage injections required to rebuild stocks in a timely manner. Without sustained injections starting as early as April 2026, Europe risks entering next winter with reduced withdrawal flexibility and tighter safety margins, particularly in the event of cold spells or unexpected supply disruptions late in winter 2026/2027.
Gas storage remains a cornerstone of the European energy system. Beyond securing gas supply, it also supports electricity security of supply by enabling flexible, fast-responding gas-fired power generation when needed. However, storage does not operate in isolation and depends on sufficient upstream supply and infrastructure utilisation.
Europe’s gas system remains structurally robust, with LNG regasification capacity of around 1,600 TWh (approximately 145 bcm) and gas storage capacity of around 1,131 TWh (approximately 104 bcm) per winter season. However, achieving storage filling targets requires sustained, high utilisation of LNG regasification terminals, particularly for storage in Central and South-Eastern Europe. LNG infrastructure is therefore not only critical to meet demand and provide resilience in crisis situations, but is increasingly indispensable for refilling storage and safeguarding winter security of supply.
What is needed to prepare for next winter?
Preparing adequately for next winter requires an early start to the filling season and a steady injection trajectory throughout the summer beginning in April 2026 and extending across the full injection period. Achieving sufficient storage levels remains essential to ensure system deliverability and resilience, particularly towards the end of winter when the system is most exposed to supply-demand imbalances.
At the same time, securing sufficient LNG cargoes and ensuring high utilisation of Europe’s regasification capacity will be critical to replenish storage stocks and complement pipeline imports and limited domestic production. LNG and storage are structurally complementary, not interchangeable: LNG ensures access to volumes and diversification, while storage provides short-term flexibility, peak deliverability, and protection against compounded or late-season shocks. Weakening either pillar would directly reduce overall system resilience.
As highlighted in the ENTSOG Summer 2026 Outlook, reaching adequate storage levels, close to 90%, will require higher LNG imports than in previous years, alongside sustained use of existing infrastructure. Stress scenarios underline this dependency: in the event of limited LNG availability, storage filling could fall significantly short of target levels, increasing the risk of tighter system margins.
Against this backdrop, demand-side response, whether market-driven or policy-supported, may also play a role in ensuring overall system balance and mitigating risks during the winter period. Ensuring coherence between storage obligations, LNG availability, and the broader EU security of supply framework will be essential to avoid shifting, rather than reducing, risks within the system.
GIE and its members stand ready to support policymakers and market participants by providing the infrastructure needed to transport, store, and import gas efficiently across Europe. Ensuring that Europe enters the next winter with adequate storage levels, strong infrastructure utilisation, and the flexibility to respond to potential shocks will be essential to safeguarding both gas and electricity security of supply in an increasingly complex energy landscape.
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 70 member companies from 26 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.
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