Annual advice on security of supply

Today, the Dutch Minister of Climate and Green Growth set the filling target for the Netherlands’ gas storage facilities for the winter of 2027/2028. The filling target has been set at 103 TWh (72%). Gasunie Transport Services (GTS) has recommended a national filling level of 93 TWh (64%). This marks the first year that the European (EU) filling objective is higher than GTS’s advice. Since the EU filling objective is binding, the government has set the 2027 target at the mandatory level: 103 TWh.

GTS has advised a filling level for the Dutch gas storage facilities of 93 TWh. The recommended filling target is lower compared to previous years as a result of new regulations which require a change in the methodology used. The target is no longer based on the coldest winter in the past 30 years, but the coldest winter in the past 20 years. This means that some exceptionally cold winters in the more distant past are no longer included in the statutory reference period.

The recommended filling target is also based on lower than expected domestic consumption due to a reduced demand for gas in the Netherlands in recent years. Based on market consultations, GTS expects Dutch LNG terminals to be supplied with more LNG in a cold winter so that less storage volume is needed to ensure security of supply.

Despite the anticipated growth in LNG supply, GTS believes that gas storage facilities will continue to be essential for security of supply in the winter period, as they offer the flexibility needed to absorb peaks in gas demand during cold winter periods.

At the same time, the European gas system as a whole remains vulnerable to geopolitical disruptions. With the European Union meanwhile depending on imports for roughly 90% of its total gas consumption, both actual disruptions and the threat of such disruptions could have major repercussions for the gas market. These situations call for public measures and political choices. In this context, GTS published a report on the resilience of the gas system earlier this year, which demonstrates why there is a need for strategic gas reserves, in addition to seasonal reserves.  This would make the Netherlands better prepared for a prolonged disruption in the gas supply, which could last for months. The advice also emphasises the importance of coordinating strategic reserves on a European level.

Under the current Dutch Energy Act, GTS has a statutory duty to present the minister with a security of supply overview for gas every year. For more information, see the letter and the associated document containing the advice for the 2027/2028 gas year.
The information can be found here.