Plugged In: the energy news podcast German regulator talks gas storage, price zone split
10 snips
Apr 3, 2025 Klaus Müller, the President of the German Federal Network Agency, shares insights into Germany's energy market as it braces for winter challenges. He discusses strategies for gas storage amid high prices and geopolitical tensions. The conversation also highlights the urgency of upgrading electricity infrastructure in light of an impending economic recovery. Müller addresses Germany's ambitious renewable energy goals and the necessity for effective investment in grid efficiency. Additionally, he reflects on the implications of possibly splitting price zones in the evolving market landscape.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Crisis Managed But Costly
- Germany and Europe managed the energy crisis through coordinated action by governments, regulators, grid operators, companies and consumers.
- Klaus Müller warns the response worked but came at very high public cost and memory of the crisis must be kept alive.
Treat LNG Like Insurance
- Build LNG terminals as insurance: you may not use them daily but they'll provide crucial flexibility during supply shocks.
- Klaus Müller also notes terminals can be repurposed for hydrogen in future decades.
Refill Rules Risk Market Distortion
- Mandatory storage refill rules were useful during the crisis but now risk distorting market incentives.
- Müller expects regulatory adjustments soon to avoid market actors betting on state bailouts.