ENTSOG Gas Regional Investment Plan South 2017

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94 | Gas Regional Investment Plan of the South Region 2017
LNG stock (GWh/d)
1,000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
-100
-200
0
1,700
1,500
1,400
1,300
1,200
1,100
1,600
4,000
2,000
0
18,000
14,000
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
16,000
01.01.1704.01.1707.01.1710.01.1713.01.1716.01.1719.01.1722.01.1725.01.1728.01.1731.01.1703.02.1706.02.1709.02.1712.02.1715.02.1718.02.1721.02.1724.02.1727.02.17
LNG Stock VIP Pirineos Total demand Algeria VIP Iberico
LNG Regasification UGS LNG Send-Out average 2016
Entry / Exit flows to the Spanish gas system
GWh/d
Role of LNG
Figure 7.5: LNG stock values and send-out of Regasification Terminals in Spain for
January 2017 and February 2017 (Source: ENTSOG TP)
The role of the UGS and LNG Terminals in the South Region
during high demand periods (January 2017)
According to “EU strategy for liquefied natural gas and gas storage”9), “gas storage
facilities, play a key role on optimizing gas infrastructure use and balancing the
system. Robust and sufficient gas storage facilities are crucial to energy security and
resilience in times of major supply disruption”.
With reference to the South Region, gas storages and LNG terminals are of
paramount importance to ensure resilience of the gas system, on top of the intercon-
nection capacities. Even though there are more tools, such as linepack, which
contribute to modulate demand fluctuations, when dealing with larger fluctuations
or even supply disruptions, due to storage dimensions, UGS and LNG terminals
have higher relevance.
In Spain and Portugal, considering the number of LNG terminals, the high storage
capacity in their LNG tanks and the share of demand covered by LNG in this region,
variations on LNG terminals’ send-out play a very important role regarding demand
coverage and seasonal fluctuations. In France, the size and number of UGS, and
the seasonal variation of demand give UGS a key role to provide security of supply
during peak days.
Several increases of send-out during cold snaps can be observed: this extra flexibility
provided by LNG terminals is essential in order to maintain suitable values of
remaining flexibility in Spain and Portugal. It is important to highlight the responsi-
bility of shippers regarding the availability of gas in these infrastructures in order to
face demand fluctuations or severe situations such as cold weather conditions or
supply disruptions.
9) COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND
SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS (Published 16/02/2016)