By P Gosselin
Looming crisis…
Experts are warning that Germany is heading into the heating season with dangerously low natural gas reserve fill levels. Currently, Germany’s gas reserve fill level stands at only 55%!
Normal for this time of year is 90%.
Last February, Germany’s natural gas reserve fill level dipped to a worrisome 20%, but late February warmth saved the day. In September, 2025, Germany the fill level had been 73%, — a level considered too low for mid September — yet still far above this year’s measly 55%.
Under average winter temperatures, a 77% starting level is projected to be enough to keep heating running and leave around 38% in storage by spring. So currently, with only 55%, a prolonged, a severe cold spell would mean daily withdrawal demands could outpace delivery capacity, creating potential shortfalls of up to 25% on peak days in January.
The concern surrounding Germany’s current 55% gas reserve fill level stems from a combination of strict operational constraints, market incentives, and the risk of severe weather. Due to slow injection speeds over the summer, operators have consistently failed to meet that daily rate. If current filling trends continue through autumn, analysts estimate reserves will peak at onl
In response to the warnings, Germany’s Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) insists that supplies remain secure. Total gas currently stored ~136 TWh still exceeds the total volume withdrawn across the entire previous winter (~134 TWh).
Failed government green energy policy
Alice Weidel, co-leader of the opposition Alternative for Germany (AfD), has framed the low gas reserve fill levels as a direct failure of the government’s green energy policy.
Weidel argues that the depletion of reserves and current low storage levels leave German industry vulnerable and increase energy prices. She contends that cutting off long-term reliance on cheap Russian pipeline imports—and relying instead on expensive LNG or renewable structures—has systematically weakened the nation’s infrastructure and economic stability.
“The so-called energy transition is the biggest millstone crushing our economy and dragging it into the abyss,” Weidel said. “Expensive, dysfunctional parallel structures are being subsidized while proven and cost-effective infrastructure is being systematically destroyed.”
