ENTSOG GRIP South - Main Report

The role of the LNG Terminals in the SouthRegion during the cold snap in 2012

As example illustrating the contribution of the LNG Terminals in the South Region, wehave analysed inmoredetail the cold snap that tookplaceduring the first half of February 2012, affectingmost countries in Europe. This cold snap was character- ized not only by its sharpness, but especially for its duration. Even when it can be said that it was a global phenomenon affecting the continent, neither the severe weather conditions nor the high levels of gas consumption were homogeneous across Europe. In theFigure6.5we can observe thedifferent impact ineachcountry from theSouthRegion: Portugal andSpainweremuch lower affect- ed thanFrance by the severeweather conditions and consequently by the increase of the level of gas consumption.

Average daily temerature

Demand variation

-20– -10% -10–0%

0–10%

10–20%

>20%

no difference

-2–< -1

-4– -2

-6– -4

-8– -6

-10– -8

-12– -10

< -12 Unit: degrees celsius

Figure 6.5: Cold snap during February 2012 – temperatures vs. demand (Source: left: JRC; right: ENTSOG)

In France, where the increase in gas demand during the cold snapwas significant, therewasahigheruseofUGS. Thatwaspossible thanks to thehighstock level avail- able in the storages, coming from the low demand experienced during the first months of thewinter, and the relative role of UGS in the entry capacity in this coun- try. In Spain the increase of gas demand during the cold snapwasmoderated, and almost negligible in Portugal. In Spain, most of the flexibility requiredwas provided by LNG Terminals, while in Portugal the deliveries fromUGS even decreased from the January’s average level. LNG Terminals contributed to the cold snap providing short term flexibility by increasing the level of utilization as well as facilitating reloading and/or diversion of cargoes where they weremost needed. Figure 6.6 illustrates the contribution of the LNG Terminals in the South Region. During the cold snap was proved the substantial role of the LNG stored in tanks providing transitional mitigation of hourly/daily fluctuations.

ENTSOG–GRIPSouth 2013–2022 |

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