Berlin, November 27, 2025 – Germany’s natural gas storage levels are dropping faster than expected as temperatures fall across Europe. This has sparked a political debate about the country’s energy independence, three years after cutting ties with Russian pipeline supplies.
Gas storage has fallen from 75% to about 71% capacity as of November 24. Experts warn of risks if the winter becomes severe.
Increased gas consumption for power generation, up 15% in the first 10 months of 2025 compared to last year, has contributed to the decline. This rise comes as output from wind and hydro sources drops.
In 2024, Germany’s total gas use reached 844 terawatt-hours (TWh), 3.5% higher than in 2023. Households and commerce made up 39% of this usage, while industry accounted for 61%. Despite the increase, consumption remains 14% below pre-crisis averages from 2018-2021.
Current storage stands at about 175.75 TWh out of a total capacity of 247 TWh, according to the Federal Network Agency and industry group INES.
This situation has heightened political debate. Alice Weidel (AfD), has called to resume Russian imports. She argues this would lower high costs and prevent shortages.
In contrast, CDU politician Paul Ziemiak called these ideas a step backward. He believes they harm Germany’s efforts to diversify its energy sources. Germany now gets liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Norway (48%), the Netherlands (25%), and Belgium (18%). The EU aims for a full ban on Russian gas by 2028, adding pressure to Berlin’s strategy.
