How much gas have the EU countries stored?
In order to cope with the energy crisis, the EU is taking measures to increase member states' gas reserves, so that they can ensure sufficient supply and protect citizens from high energy prices.
In reaction to the energy crisis that was sparked in 2022 by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and weaponisation of Europe's gas supplies, the EU took measures to increase gas reserves. In the following years, the EU managed to secure abundant reserves of gas well ahead of winter.
Now that the peak of the energy crisis is behind us, gas reserves have decreased again. However, there is no immediate risk to the security of gas supply in the EU. Today, the EU is better prepared for potential crises, thanks to increased diversification, higher LNG import capacity, and reduced gas demand.
The line chart compares gas storage levels over the course of the year for the years 2021-2026. In 2022, 2023 and 2024, the average storage level was much higher than in 2021. In 2022, the goal of reaching 80% of capacity was achieved in August. In 2023, gas storage facilities were over 80% full from July and over 90% full from August. In 2024, the 90% threshold had already been reached by August. In 2025, the reserve levels were lower, due in part to a relatively harsh winter in Europe, but they mostly remained above 2021 averages. In September 2026, the reserves are at 68%.
This data comes from Gas Infrastructure Europe.
Gas storage capacity and filling levels in each member state
Most EU member states have gas storage facilities on their territory. Storage capacities in five countries (Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands and Austria) make up two thirds of the EU's total capacity.
Under the regulation on gas storage, countries that do not have storage facilities must store 15% of their annual domestic gas consumption in stocks located in other member states, thereby ensuring access to gas reserves stored in other member states. This mechanism strengthens the security of EU gas supplies and ensures that the financial burden of filling the EU's storage capacities is shared. Member states with lower storage capacities collaborate with those that have larger facilities to secure their reserves.
The chart shows the gas storage capacity for each EU member state as at 13 September 2026.
The chart shows gas storage capacities, the amount of gas in storage and the filling level for each EU member state as at 13 September 2026.
Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands are the countries with the largest storage capacities.
Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta and Slovenia do not have gas storage facilities. However, under the gas storage regulation they must make solidarity arrangements with other member states to secure their gas reserves.
This data comes from Gas Infrastructure Europe.
*storage level might exceed 100%, as the capacity of the facilities does not always correspond to the physical capacity of the sites
Rules on gas storage in a nutshell
In June 2022, the EU took measures to increase gas reserves in order to ensure sufficient supply and protect citizens from high energy prices, against the backdrop of Russia's unprovoked military aggression against Ukraine, which had severely disrupted energy markets.
These rules on gas reserves required EU member states to ensure that gas storage facilities in the EU were filled to at least 90% of their capacity each year before the colder months, and that the stored gas was shared across the EU in a spirit of solidarity.
In July 2025, the Council adopted a two-year extension of the rules and introduced additional flexibility, enabling member states to adjust to ever-evolving market conditions and to combat potential market manipulation:
- the existing binding target of 90% for gas storage is maintained, but with flexibility to meet it anytime between 1 October and 1 December
- a 10% flexibility margin is introduced to cover difficulties in filling storage capacities and the Commission may increase the flexibility margin for the filling target by up to an additional 5% in the event of persistent unfavourable market conditions
Last review: 23 September 2026
