Germany has presented a new energy security package to reduce gas consumption and secure supplies before the winter, amid dwindling exports from Russia and concerns regarding the Nord Stream 1 pipeline.
The package notably allows some previously halted lignite-fired power capacity to be used again in a bid to save gas. In June 2022, Germany already unveiled measures to allow some 4.3 GW hard coal and 1.6 GW fuel oil projects currently in reserve schemes to return to the market for a transitional period until 31 March 2024.
The package also includes stricter regulations for the level of gas storage tanks, as the country expects to introduce new minimum filling levels of gas storage facilities. By September 2022, the facilities should be filled with at least 75%, and the minimum filling level on 1 October 2022 will be raised from 80% to 85%, and that on 1 November 2022 from 90% to 95%. In addition, the package includes mandatory gas-saving measures for companies that consume more than 10 GWh/year of energy.
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