Follow-up Expert Workshop: Targeted Aspects of Gas Storage

Building on a previous workshop that addressed strategic, regulatory, and techno-economic aspects of gas storage, this high level webinar served as a targeted deep dive into gas storage as a security of supply tool, approval procedures for planning, construction, and operation of storage facilities as well as into deployment of hydrogen-methane mixtures in existing gas infrastructure.

Participants included representatives from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), the Israeli Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, the Israeli National Gas Authority, the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), the German Federal Network Agency (BNetzA), Enagás (Spain), the State Authority for Mining, Energy and Geology of Lower Saxony (LBEG), DBI Gas- und Umwelttechnik, and the German Energy Agency (dena).

In both Germany and Israel, natural gas remains a key energy source and industrial feedstock. Gas storage plays a critical role in energy system flexibility—allowing for price arbitrage, balancing of gas grids and electricity systems, and complementing variable electricity generation. Storage enables gas to be held over longer periods to meet seasonal demand fluctuations and is vital for ensuring uninterrupted supply in the event of disruptions or failures in gas production or imports.

In Germany, gas storage has become more essential than ever due to the phase-out of Russian gas imports, declining domestic production, and growing dependence on external suppliers. For Israel, learning from Germany’s extensive experience in gas storage is key as the country explores new measures to enhance its own gas supply security.

The workshop significantly strengthened mutual understanding of the regulatory, technical, and operational dimensions of gas storage. Discussions on hydrogen integration, safety requirements, and infrastructure development clearly illustrated both the urgency and the opportunities for international collaboration.

Further workshops are planned to continue and deepen this dialogue.