Claudia Kemfert, an energy economist at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), urged Germans to conserve gas as the country’s storage levels fall to unusually low levels. “It makes sense to keep cutting gas consumption” she told the newspapers of the Funke‑Media Group. “If you can, you should also consider switching from a gas heating system to a heat pump, because every new heat‑pump installation permanently reduces costs, dependence, and crisis risks”.
Kemfert sees the current emptiness of the German gas reserves as a warning signal. “Supply is secure right now, but the low levels are a clear alert” she said. “The buffer is smaller than in previous years, which makes us more vulnerable to cold spells and price spikes”.
While importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) has given Germany flexibility, it has also increased its reliance on the global market and price fluctuations. If US President Donald Trump were to decide to halt LNG exports, Kemfert noted that a sudden supply shortfall would be “unlikely” but a sharp price shock would be “highly realistic”. A major challenge would be filling the storage tanks over the summer, which would become significantly harder and more expensive.
