Securing Future Supply: GIE publishes new EU gas storage outlook study ahead of winter preparedness discussions

March 18, 2026

GIE released today a new EU wide-gas storage study demonstrating that system deliverability will be central to Europe’s future energy resilience, as the EU prepares to review its Security of Supply (SoS) framework.

The study, “Securing Future Supply: Quantifying Gas Storage Needs for a Resilient and Integrated European Energy System”, was presented during a GIE workshop in Brussels.

Conducted by Artelys and Compass Lexecon, it provides new evidence on the continued and evolving role of underground gas storage (UGS) in a rapidly changing European energy system.

As electrification accelerates and renewable and low-carbon gases scale up,  the study shows that UGS will remain a cornerstone of system resilience—supporting both gas and power systems under increasingly complex stress conditions.

Deliverability, not volume alone, will define future resilience

The modelling demonstrates that looking ahead to 2030 and 2040, withdrawal capacity becomes more decisive for security of supply than stored volumes alone.

Even as methane demand declines, UGS remains the only large-scale flexibility source capable of supporting the energy system during prolonged cold spells, periods of low renewable output, or simultaneous shocks across gas and electricity systems.

Key findings include:

• Gas storage will increasingly support the power system, with gas-fired generation required to back up wind and solar during low-output periods.
• UGS is expected to supply more than half of peak winter demand during two-week stress events in both 2030 and 2040 scenarios.
• High filling levels at the start of winter remain essential, as withdrawal capacity decreases when inventories are lower.
• Under extreme shocks, capacity margins narrow sharply, highlighting the need for a stable and predictable long-term storage policy.

A regulatory framework ready for the future

The study’s regulatory analysis highlights gaps in the current framework and calls for:

• Updated EU-wide risk assessments, reflecting evolving system interactions;
• Security of Supply standards that better reflect deliverability constraints;
• More coherent and durable filling mechanisms beyond 2027; and
• Fairer and more effective cost‑sharing arrangements across Member States.
• delivery-aware SoS standards, more coherent filling mechanisms after 2027, and improved cost-sharing across Member States.

These findings echo discussions held last week at the European Energy Forum (EEF) dinner in Strasbourg, where policymakers and experts emphasised the importance of robust storages, clearer price signals and incentives, and improved cross-sector coordination to manage future shocks.

Charlotte Roule, President of Gas Storage Europe (GSE) and CEO of Storengy, highlighted: “Gas storage remains crucial in Europe’s energy security. Ensuring adequate filling levels, robust deliverability and market frameworks that adequately recognise the value of storage will thus be key to strengthening Europe’s ability to respond to future shocks. Across all scenarios, gas storage  remains a vital component of a resilient and well‑prepared energy system.”

Note to editors

Who is GIE?

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.