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With the technically operated storage capacity of approximately five billion cubic meters of natural gas RAG is significantly contributing to the security of gas supply in Austria and throughout Central Europe.

Underground gas storage facilities ensuring security of supply

Natural gas storage is a core business of RAG. Over 30 year´s experience and extension of its storage facilities have made RAG one of Europe´s leading storage operator.
RAG storage facilities are used by national and international customers. With the technically operated storage capacity of approximately five billion cubic meters of natural gas RAG is significantly contributing to the security of gas supply in Austria and throughout Central Europe.

Efficiency due to sustainable use of former gas reservoir as underground gas storage

Austria has excellent geological conditions for underground gas storage. Since 1982 RAG has used former gas reservoirs which were formerly depleted during gas production for storing natural gas. Using a natural gas reservoir that has existed for millions of years as underground gas storage represents the best, safest and most environmental friendly way of storing energy.

Technical reliability due to operational safety 

The highly skilled staff ensures operational safety of storage facilities by regulary carrying inspections, maintenance and replacement works. RAG’s entire safety management for storage operation complies with certified procedures. RAG is the first company in Europe to which the TSM Certificate (Technical Safety Management) was awarded by German Technical Association for Gas and Water (Deutsche Vereinigung des Gas- und Wasserfaches e.V.).

Underground storage facilities - partner of renewables

Beside their classical task to balance the seasonal and daily variations in gas demand, the role of underground gas storage facilities as "energy storage" is getting more and more important. Underground gas storage facilities are indispensable in power generation concerning exploitation of renewable energy sources, such as wind and sun. Because the more the share of renewable energy sources increases in the energy mix, the more gas should be available in the background to be set out when wind turbines and solar collectors can not generate power as a result of weather conditions. Natural gas used as feedstock in underground gas storage facilities and its conversion into electricity using gas fired power plants enables to compensate for the constantly increasing fluctuations resulting from the share of renewable energy sources in power generation.

Tailor-made solutions for storage customers

In response to legal requirements, on 1 January 2013 Rohöl-Aufsuchungs Aktiengesellschaft (RAG) formed a 100 % subsidiary, RAG Energy Storage GmbH, to market its storage capacity.
The aim of RAG Energy Storage is to meet the challenges of a new energy world by offering innovative bespoke services, designed to make a reality of “value added gas”, as well as RAG’s established storage products. These solutions will be tailored not just to fit conventional supplies but also to support short-term intraday- and complex trading-transactions. 
Current information concerning storage services, storage capacities, storage tariffs, storage data and maintenance works is published on the homepage of RAG Energy Storage.