Source: Energy & Management Powernews, August 10, 2022
Since August 9, the gas emergency plan is in force in the EU. The EU states are to save 15% natural gas in the next eight months. In Germany, the countries want to have more say in the process.
The EU member states are to voluntarily restrict their natural gas consumption by 15% from now until March next year. This is provided for in the EU Gas Emergency Plan, which officially came into force on August 9.
Only if these measures prove insufficient and an acute gas shortage threatens, the Commission can declare an emergency at the request of five member states. It would then forward a draft decision to the Council, which would decide to impose binding savings targets on the member states.
However, the hurdle for this would be high: the consent of at least 15 EU countries, which together account for at least 65% of the total population of the Union, would be required. Countries such as Poland and Hungary have already made it clear that they would insist on the voluntary nature of the decisions and ignore mandatory austerity requirements. In many other EU countries, however, the focus is on appeals by governments to the population to save gas.
Savings: Germany managed 15% in the first half of the year
A total of 45 billion cubic meters of gas must be saved, according to figures from the EU Commission. Germany would have to consume about 10 billion cubic meters of gas less to reach the 15 percent target. This has already been achieved in the first half of the year: As figures from the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Energiebilanzen (Ageb) from the beginning of August show, natural gas consumption in the first half of this year had already decreased by around 15%.
The main reason for this development was the milder weather and the high price level, according to the Ageb. In addition, the use of natural gas for power generation decreased because renewable energies made higher contributions. Gas storage facilities in Germany were 72.64% full on Aug. 8. The fill level of Germany's largest natural gas storage facility, Rehden, is currently 49.79%, data from the Federal Network Agency show. It comprises around 20% of Germany's natural gas storage capacity. The storage facility belonged to German Gazprom subsidiary Astora until June and is now under the control of the Federal Network Agency. The Russian owners allowed the storage facility to run almost completely empty. In April, the storage facility was filled with less than 1% of natural gas.
Although the situation is currently stable and the security of supply of natural gas is guaranteed. Nevertheless, "the situation is tense and a further deterioration of the situation can not be excluded," warned the Federal Network Agency.
In the event that a gas shortage really occurs, the Federal Network Agency assumes the role of the so-called federal load distributor. It can then, for example, order supply reductions. These orders can also address individual end consumers such as industrial companies.
Aiwanger: "Massively involve the states"
Here, some federal states have now spoken up. They feel that the Federal Network Agency should not have sole say over natural gas distribution. In view of the significant economic and social impact, they should have a say on emergency plans and, in the event of gas rationing, on distribution.
The Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs, Hubert Aiwanger of the Free Voters, supports the demand. "I am convinced, one must involve here massively the countries with, in order to make the correct decisions," he said to the Bavarian broadcast. Similarly, Hamburg's First Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) and the non-partisan Berlin Economics Senator Stephan Schwarz.
The President of the Federal Network Agency, Klaus Müller, however, sees little need to coordinate even more with the federal states. These are sufficiently involved in the development of the emergency plans, he said in the ZDF morning magazine. In an emergency, however, things have to happen quickly, Müller said. "And we know from other crisis situations, when many want to have a say, that it often unfortunately does not happen so quickly."
Author: Stefan Sagmeister
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