Increased month-on-month heating demand in Europe due to colder temperatures did not hurt the continent as both businesses and households changed their behavior.

Wood Mackenzie said that colder temperatures across Europe have increased month-on-month heating demand by 20% in December, but a behavioral change in households and services means the amount of gas used in these sectors is 16% lower than previous average consumption patterns for similar temperatures.

Despite the recent cold weather, Europe is still on track to end this winter with gas storage levels at 38% and looks set to meet the 2023 European Union target of having inventories up to 90% by November next year.

“Gas demand has decreased by 10% in 2022, equivalent to 50 bcm. In 2023, gas demand will continue falling, albeit at a slower rate year-on-year, under normal weather conditions. Demand in the residential sector will reduce by 12% compared to the five-year average, however, it will be like levels in 2022 as this was a relatively warm year. Demand in the industrial sector will reduce by an additional 7%. Gas demand in the power sector will fall by 4% as renewable build-out continues to grow and despite nuclear and hydro output remaining weak,” Penny Leake, Wood Mackenzie research analyst for European gas, said.

“From April to October 2023, there will be up to 25 billion cubic meters less Russian gas. But with storage levels reaching 38% at the end of this winter, Europe’s requirement to refill storage levels next summer will fall by 19 bcm compared to the corresponding period of 2022. This, combined with 9 bcm additional LNG imports, will help hit the 90% gas storage capacity target set by the EU.”

“The EU and UK combined are projected to import 164 bcm of LNG in 2023, a record high, and 13 bcm more than 2022. This will be supported by accelerated regasification capacity projects that are currently underway and will help Europe’s storage levels refill by next summer,” Leake added.

“Prices will need to remain high to keep demand low and to attract LNG. However, if Europe’s storage levels reach 38% by March as forecasted, there is a downside risk to the current forward curve, which is trading at $40/million British thermal units (mmbtu). Part of this reduction will also be facilitated by increased regasification capacity in the Netherlands and Germany, helping reduce bottlenecks from gas piped flows from the UK to the continent, helping TTF ease to levels closer to NBP and DES LNG prices,” Mauro Chavez Rodriguez, Research Director European Gas & LNG markets, stated.

“Weather remains the biggest risk factor to this view If a colder-than-expected winter hits the northern hemisphere, European demand could increase 13 bcm and Asian LNG demand 7 bcm, potentially taking inventories to just 19% by winter’s end and only 73% ahead of winter 2023/2024, providing upside to the current forward curve,” Rodriguez said.