Storage: buffer to meet peak demand
Fluxys provides storage capacity for suppliers to the Belgian market, meaning they have a buffer allowing them to continue supplying their heating customers when the weather is colder. Storage services include not only storage capacity but also injection capacity and sendout capacity to fill and empty the storage facilities.
Existing storage capacity prioritises gas for the Belgian market
The geological structure of the Belgian subsoil means there are not many opportunities for storage in Belgium. For this reason, Fluxys gives preference to users who will supply Belgian distribution system operators when it is allocating storage services. There are 17 natural gas distribution system operators in Belgium, which distribute natural gas from the Fluxys grid to end users connectedto their distribution system.
Storage facility in Loenhout
Six of Fluxys’ customers currently make use of its storage facility at the underground storage in Loenhout, where high calorific gas is kept in buffer in aquifers. The working storage volume at Loenhout is 650 million normal cubic metres of natural gas.
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Expanding underground storage capacity at Loenhout
In 2007, Fluxys began work to expand the underground storage capacity at its Loenhout facility by 15% over a four-year period, moving from a working volume of 600 million cubic metres to a working volume of 700 million cubic metres (total volume: 1,400 million cubic metres). In 2009 the workable storage volume increased from 625 to 650 million cubic metres. In addition, the flexibility in operating the storage facility will be boosted by 2010 by increasing send-out capacity from 500,000 to 625,000 cubic metres per hour and injection capacity from 250,000 to 325,000 cubic metres per hour.
Research continues in Limburg
In collaboration with the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) and the Limburg Investment Company (LRM), Fluxys is looking into potential sites for underground gas storage in the Kempen region of Limburg province. In the second half of 2008 the seismic research by VITO geologists revealed the possibility of structures to be present. In order to confirm the characteristics of the subsoil and to analyze possible storage structures, Fluxys and VITO jointly took the decision in principle to carry out an exploratory drilling. The drilling is planned for 2011.
Contact
Huberte Bettonville Tel.: +32 2 282 76 96 Fax: +32 2 282 02 50 E-mail: info.transport@fluxys.com
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