This story starts a few decades back, when EWE Energie AG realized that Oldenburg, surrounded by rich salt layers and the perfect underground formations, could be the ideal place to store gas. So, they spun off EWE Gasspeicher GmbH, which is still 100% owned by EWE AG, and got busy turning Oldenburg into a secret superhero of energy security.
Picture gigantic salt caverns - as big as cathedrals! Gas is pumped down from far-off places, stored ready for the coldest, chilliest Oldenburg winters, or for moments when, let’s be honest, your neighbor forgets to turn off their heating. There are about 2.1 billion cubic meters of working gas stored across different sites - that’s enough to fill over 840,000 Olympic swimming pools. Talk about a deep breath!
Sites in Huntorf and Nüttermoor near here, and Rüdersdorf by Berlin, all feed into major gas networks not just for Germany, but also for our Dutch friends next door. And get this: in one spot, Nüttermoor alone, there are 21 underground caverns, each ready to switch from storing lighter L-gas to heavier H-gas depending on what the market and the future need.
In true dramatic fashion, the network is constantly evolving. In Jemgum, new caverns are being carved out of ancient salt domes as we speak-almost like energy treasure chests, buried right beneath us. So the next time you hear a rustle in the bushes or feel a mysterious warmth in the wind, just smile-you’re standing on one of Germany’s hidden energy powerhouses, keeping the lights (and heating) on for millions. Don’t worry, you won’t float away - but thanks to EWE, if you ever need a really, REALLY big hot air balloon, you’ll know where to ask!
