Status Report on the Security of Energy Supply in the State of Berlin

As of March 28, 2024

With this regular status report, the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises provides information on the state of affairs and the assessment of energy supply security in the state of Berlin.

• Security of supply in Germany and Berlin is currently assured in all sectors. Shortages in gas and electricity supply are not expected at present.

Detailed explanations and background information on this data can be found on the website of the Federal Network Agency, updated daily.

Berlin’s energy supply is stable in all sectors with a positive outlook for this winter. Shortages in gas and electricity supply are not currently expected.

The total storage level in Germany is currently 65.40 %.

This status report is drawn up by the Senate in close cooperation with network operators, utility companies, state and federal authorities, ministries and all sectors. The Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises is continuously dealing with all current issues relating to energy supply.

According to the Federal Network Agency, the gas supply in Germany is stable and security of supply is guaranteed. The initial situation at the start of the cold months and therefore the heating period was significantly better in the previous year. On the one hand, feed-in options from LNG (liquefied natural gas) plants have been expanded and the lack of gas flows from Russia has been offset by gas supplies from Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium. On the other hand, gas storage levels were at 100.03 per cent at the start of the heating period, which was largely made possible by the savings of around 20 per cent in the previous winter. As a result, Germany entered the colder season with full gas storage facilities, just as it did a year ago).

However, it is still too early to give the all-clear. The alert level of the gas emergency plan, which has been in place since 23 June 2022, remains in place for the time being. A halt to the remaining Russian gas supply to south-eastern Europe would also make it necessary to cover the gas requirements of these countries with supplies from within the EU in the event of a shortage. At the same time, there has to be enough available LNG on the global market, as Germany and Europe are around 40% dependent on liquefied natural gas. Saving gas therefore remains important.

Economical gas consumption is also worthwhile financially in view of the continually rising gas prices: the savings between October 2022 and September 2023 have reduced the costs for an average household by around 440 euros.

The security of the power supply is currently ensured. Power outages or grid disruptions are unlikely this winter. The stability of the nationwide power grid is constantly monitored and the grid operators are constantly improving the power grid by modernizing it, increasing security and continuously expanding it.

Grid operators are constantly preparing for the unlikely event of a power grid overload. For example, a large number of electrically powered heaters – such as fan heaters or infrared heaters – could jeopardize grid stability in a gas shortage situation. In such cases, temporary and spatially limited power cuts could become necessary to protect the networks. The Federal Network Agency and the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) also point out that heating with electricity is significantly more expensive even when gas prices are high.

The supply of hard coal and oil as energy sources is currently secured. The government reserves have been replenished. A coal embargo against Russia has been in force since August 2022. Furthermore, embargoes are in place against Russian oil from tankers and pipelines and for Russian petroleum products.

A large part of the eastern German states and the Berlin region are supplied with products such as gasoline, kerosene and oil from refineries in Schwedt and Leuna, which in turn obtained much of their crude oil from Russia via the Druzhba pipeline. The refinery in Leuna has already contractually secured alternative sources of supply. Since December 5, 2022, Schwedt has been increasingly supplied with crude oil via pipelines from Rostock and Gdansk and is therefore able to produce in full. The demand for the region is covered.