The Breitbrunn gas storage facility in Bavaria has reached a critically low fill level. At around 19 percent, it is significantly below the legally mandated target. At the same time, the operator, Uniper, is planning to decommission the facility. This will reduce the available gas reserves for southern Germany, while the ongoing winter continues to generate high demand. (nn: 29.01.26)
Legal requirements clearly not met
According to the Gas Storage Level Ordinance, the storage tank should be at least 40 percent full on February 1st. Breitbrunn is significantly below this target. While the nationwide average was recently around 36 percent, the Bavarian site is far below this level. This is significant because the regulations for Bavaria are deliberately stricter than in other regions.
The deficit was already apparent before the start of the heating season. On November 1, 2025, the fill level was just under 57 percent, although it was designed to be 80 percent. This meant the storage facility started the winter at a clear disadvantage. This situation worsened as the heating season progressed.
Bavaria’s Largest Storage Facility Loses Importance
Breitbrunn is not a peripheral location. The porous rock storage facility is considered the largest gas storage facility in Bavaria and the third largest in Germany. Its maximum capacity is approximately 11.5 terawatt-hours of natural gas. Currently, only about 2.2 terawatt-hours of this capacity remain stored. As a result, the site is losing its function as a reliable winter buffer.
Porous rock storage facilities are considered technically complex. The gas is injected into porous deep rock, which makes operation more expensive than with cavern storage facilities. Therefore, traders primarily use this type of storage seasonally. Consequently, demand remains limited, especially during periods of market uncertainty.
Uniper sees no further economic viability
Uniper justifies the planned decommissioning with a lack of profitability. A spokesperson told the Nuremberg News: “We cannot operate the storage facility in Breitbrunn economically.” The margins are very low or already negative. Against this backdrop, Uniper applied for decommissioning effective March 31, 2027.
The storage facility is to be used for one more winter before then. After that, the site will be taken offline. This decision follows a trend that is already visible. Another gas storage facility in Bavaria near Nuremberg was decommissioned in 2023.
Resistance from State Politics
There is significant opposition from Bavarian state politics. Energy Minister Hubert Aiwanger called on the Federal Network Agency to deny the permit. He sees the security of supply in Bavaria as being at risk. This brings economic arguments and political security interests into direct conflict.
Uniper emphasizes that other storage sites are not affected. Nevertheless, the Breitbrunn case demonstrates how fragile the system has become. Every single storage facility gains importance if the overall situation remains tense.
Lack of Incentives for Full Storage Facilities
The problem is not limited to Breitbrunn. At other locations as well, storing gas is hardly profitable for operators anymore. So-called storage arbitrage, i.e., profit from seasonal price differences, has shrunk considerably. Monthly fill level requirements further limit flexibility.
Uniper recently stated that the security of natural gas supply in Germany is currently “not guaranteed.” The company is calling for reliable and long-term framework conditions. It is also demanding targeted market incentives to make refilling storage facilities economically viable again.
Risk of a Late Winter Emergency
At the beginning of this winter, reservoir levels were already below the previous year’s levels. This trend continued, partly because the heating season was comparatively cold. Should this development persist, a critical situation could arise as early as February.
In such a scenario, large industrial consumers would be affected first. Industrial shutdowns are considered the initial step before further measures are taken. The low reservoir level in Breitbrunn exacerbates this risk because regional balancing mechanisms are lacking.