Natural Gas Storage Market Size, Share, and Trends 2024 to 2034

The global natural gas storage market size was estimated at 517.59 bcm in 2022, and is projected to surpass around 726.56 bcm by 2032 with a registered CAGR of 3.5% during the forecast period 2023 to 2032.

Key Takeaways

• The North America market accounted for 44.3% of the revenue share in 2022.
• By underground storage type, the depleted reservoir segment held 78.5% of the total revenue share in 2022.
• By type, the underground storage type segment accounted for 92% of the total revenue share in 2022.

The U.S. market of natural gas storage is expected to develop as a result of the rising necessity of storing gas from fractured reservoirs. Over the next several years, increased seasonal consumption from a variety of end-use industries and manufacturing companies in the area is expected to combine with rising natural gas output to drive market expansion. Furthermore, it is projected that favorable government rules favoring fuels with low carbon content relative to certain other fossil fuels will continue to be a positive factor for growth in natural gas consumption.

The demand will also be increased by technical developments as well as growing public knowledge of natural gas's environmental benefits. During the forecast timeframe, factors such as rising natural gas consumption in the industrial, chemical, and transportation sectors, mostly from Asia-Pacific countries, are anticipated to propel the market of gas storage. Additionally, as the world works toward a low-carbon economy, the benefits of using fossil fuel as a clean-burning, versatile, and economical fuel are anticipated to lead to an increase in natural gas prices in the future. However, it is anticipated that the demand's seasonality and volatility, along with the mismatch between demand and supply will impede the market's expansion for natural gas storage. It is anticipated that the high natural gas production will spur oil and gas production and boost the requirement for storage facilities.

Subterranean storage areas and above storage areas are the two categories that compose the market. Aquifers drained lakes, and salt caves are the three main categories into which subterranean storage facilities are separated. The region's expanding chemical, commercial, and transportation industries will probably increase the need for natural pumped storage. Future oil and gas demand is also projected to increase due to the benefits of someone using gas as a spotless, versatile, and efficient fuel for a range of uses, as well as the global shift toward a reduced society.

Natural Gas Storage Market Scope

Growth Factors

Gas storage is typically utilized to fulfill consumer needs; during times of economic downturn, gas is stored, also during times of maximum supply, gas is extracted from storage. The subterranean or above forms of storage of natural gas are the two categories that make up the market. Gaseous types of fossil fuels are primarily kept in subterranean storage facilities. Aquifer depletion, the depleted reservoir in oil and gas sectors, and salt cavern formations are the three main types of subterranean storage facilities.

The various storage options each have unique physical properties, including porosity, permeability, maintenance costs, and other relevant site abilities. The growth in oil & gas development that followed the rise in natural gas consumption resulted in more above- and below-ground storage sites. Thus, it is anticipated that the storage of the natural gas industry will experience steady expansion in the years to come.

Due to its many advantages placed above a white above-ground stockpiling and the rising number of sites due to their low operational and infrastructure costs, the subsurface memory (UGS) segment is anticipated to have the largest percentage of the market, led by the United States, with the greatest percentage of UGS capacity.

The US Department of Energy's investigation into chilling salt deposits to store more gas and reduce operating costs is opening up opportunities for the industry under study.

With a rising reliance on natural gasoline and to ensure natural gas supply regardless of demand and supply Europe is predicted to have the fastest-growing industry.

Natural Gas Storage Market Dynamics

Key Market Drivers

Favorable government policies will boost the market for natural gas stockpiling

• To further promote the use of Liquefied Natural Gas vehicles and infrastructure, governments throughout the world are increasing the tax advantages that are now in place. Governments all over the globe, particularly in India and China are also expanding financing for CNG technology development and research and providing loans and grants to assist the construction of CNG fuelling stations. Along with reducing emissions and enhancing air quality, such initiatives would also help the economy by creating jobs.

An increased focus on alternative fuels will help to drive demand

• Compressed natural gas usage is rising. New automobiles that can run on both petroleum and natural gas compressed are being developed by Indian manufacturers like Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, and Hindustan Motors (CNG). CNG vehicles price less than that to operate and produce 70% fewer dangerous emissions than equivalent gasoline and diesel vehicles. Fossil fuels that have been squeezed to five times the normal air pressure at 20° Celsius are called compression natural gas, or CNG. In comparison to petrol or diesel, the amount of gas is reduced by 600 times, making it simpler to keep and transport.

The market's expansion is driven by the widespread adoption of wearable sports equipment with RTLS embedded

• The importance of data analysis within the sports industry is increasing as sports federations look for innovative ways to market the game and draw viewers in. The development of RTLS within the sports industry is also sparked by sizable investments in football media and broadcast. Sporting organizations around the world employ a variety of RTLS technologies to instruct athletes and track their success in competition. Predictive analysis is where RTLS-enhanced smart sports equipment is most commonly used. Basketball, golf, football, and tennis are just a few of the games and sports that use them in crucial decision-making procedures.

Key Market Challenges 

Storage for natural gas is expensive, and transmission capacity is constrained

• To store gas in a regulated atmosphere, a rigid infrastructure is required. To stop leaks from storage facilities, a sizable volume of funds should be routinely invested in maintenance and operation tasks. The massive price of storage of natural gas and the limited transmission network are expected to limit the industry's expansion.

Key Market Opportunities

Because of its favorable environmental effects, natural gas is being used in industry at an increasing rate

• The oil and gas market is anticipated to be hindered by the cyclic and sheer unpredictability of oil and gas production, in addition to an imbalance between both supply and demand. These considerations have led to an increase in natural gas use in both household and non-domestic uses, including power generation, transport, and a variety of other industries. Due to its affordability and favorable environmental effects, natural gas is increasingly being used in industry across a wide range of countries. These storage facilities are essential since oil and gas is a nonrenewable energy sources, making them vulnerable to unforeseen events, natural disasters, and distribution and production issues. The growth strategy is probably going to be fueled in the coming years by the supply of natural gas as well as increased seasonal factors from a variety of end-use industries and manufacturing companies in the region.

Type Insights

In 2022, the large underground type held the biggest market share (92%). Like the majority of other products, fossil fuel may be kept in storage for a very long time. Natural gas exploration and development typically take time. Additionally, natural gas sometimes isn't used right away after arriving at its location, so it's kept in facilities, probably underground. With seasonal changes, subterranean coal and gas storage has become a crucial component of the energy supply, especially for countries in Europe and North America. Production that is constant and consistent contrasts with demand and usage that are erratic and follows a seasonal pattern depending on the patterns. Due to the significant increase in demand for subterranean natural gas on the international market, the percentage of usage has been observed to increase steadily. 

In addition, natural gas is kept in gaseous or liquid form in the above storage tanks. The locations in which the above-ground storage facilities are located lack subsurface caves. The above-ground storage tanks are generally inexpensive to install and provide simple access to storage facilities. Natural gas is additionally stored locally in portable tanks which are placed onto railroads or barges for lengthy transit in addition to stationary terrestrial storage tanks. The terrestrial segment, which had the second-largest share of the market in 2022, is expected to grow at a respectable CAGR over the course of the projected year.

Underground Storage Type Insights 

The shallow groundwater type's drained reservoirs segment held the biggest market share in 2022. One of the earliest and most common types of gas storage is in fractured reservoirs. Formations known as depleted reservoirs have already had all of their exploitable fossil fuels extracted from them. Approximately 50% of the fossil fuels inside the deposit need to be preserved as a cushion gas to sustain pressure in fractured reservoirs. Due to the infrastructure already in place for gas storage, these reservoirs have mostly been utilized for this purpose. They offer a long combustion cycle of 50 to 200 days and a moderate gas delivery.

The CAGR that is anticipated to be the greatest during the forecast timeframe belongs to the salt cavern. Current salt resources give rise to salt caverns. Due to their steel-like structural strength, which makes the caverns resistant to reservoir deterioration over the course of the storage unit, they are appropriate for storing gas. Aquifers are underground formations of porous, permeable rock that serve as spontaneous water reservoirs. Due to the necessity for geological classification before storage, these structures are the least appealing and the costliest type of natural energy storage site. Aquifers are typically found in pressure distribution near water pressure upon exploration.

Natural Gas Storage Market Share, By Region, 2022 (%)

Regional Insights

In 2022, the North America region dominated the natural gas storage market due to its large reserves, well-developed infrastructure, and numerous storage options, such as salt caverns and depleted fields. The strategic geographical location of the region, technical improvements, and a market-friendly environment with government assistance all contribute to its growth. North America is a significant region in addressing dynamic energy requirements due to its liberalized energy market, reliance on a diverse energy mix, and flexibility to seasonal demand variations. Additionally, the U.S. is the major producer of natural gas which means that there is a large supply of natural gas available for storage. There are over 4,000 natural gas storage facilities in the United States, which can store a total of approximately 4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The demand for natural gas in the U.S. is also increasing due to the increased use of natural gas for power generation and the rising trend of natural gas-powered vehicles.

Recent Developments

• Sempra Energy declared in April 2019 that it has successfully sold its non-utility storage for natural gas facilities and US renewables business, producing about $2.15 billion of cash. 
• To discuss issues about gas imports and storage, the executive members from Gazprom & VNG will meet during the 8th St. Petersburg Worldwide Gas Forum in October 2018. The focus of the discussion was on collaborative efforts in the area of gas storage, namely a collaborative effort for the German Wilhelm UGC facility.
• Trafigura and Singapore LNG Corp. inked a new agreement in January 2018 for the storing and reloading of liquefied natural gas. (LNG). the new agreement. For the next 24 months, Trafigura will also have recourse to 160000m3 of LNG storage capacity.

Natural Gas Storage Market Companies

• Cardinal Gas Storage Partners LLC.
• Centrica plc
• Chart Industries
• Chiyoda Corporation
• DTE Energy
• E. ON SE
• Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc.
• Engie S. A.
• Foster Wheeler
• Gazprom
• GDF Suez
• Martin Midstream Partners L.P.
• McDermott International, Inc.
• NAFTA A.S.
• Niska Gas Storage Partners, LLC.
• Royal Vopak N.V.
• Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
• Spectra Energy Corporation
• Technip S.A.
• Trafigura
• TransCanada Corporation
• Uniper
• WorleyParsons Limited

Segments Covered in the Report

By Type  

• Underground
• Aboveground
• Floating

By Underground Storage Type  

• Depleted Gas Reservoir
• Aquifer Reservoir
• Salt Caverns

By Application

• Residential
• Commercial
• Others

By Geography

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East & Africa (MEA)