Not so long ago, apocalyptic forecasts abounded on the outlook for European energy supplies this winter. Now it seems the worst-case scenarios for widespread blackouts and rationing may have been averted. Natural gas prices have fallen sharply from an all-time peak in August. The EU’s gas storage has been filled to 95 per cent capacity. An unusually mild autumn has helped. Fears that Europe might run short of energy reserves to get households and businesses through the colder months have been assuaged by rapid action to build up stocks, boost efficiency and procure alternate supplies. But the region is not out of the woods yet. Getting through winter 2023 could be an even greater challenge.Europe must not be lulled into a false sense of security. This time next year, storage sites may only be 65 per cent full, given the difficulties it could face in refilling them from the spring, according to the International Energy Agency. For starters, weather conditions could quickly turn and deplete stores. There may be little or no Russian gas to rebuild reserves too. Before Vladimir Putin reduced exports to a trickle in September by indefinitely closing Nord Stream 1 — the main pipeline carrying gas from Russia to Europe, Russian gas had been important in meeting storage targets.
不久以前，歐洲今冬能源供應的前景還充斥著末日般的預測?，F在看來，大范圍停電和實施能源配給的最壞情境也許已經得以避免。天然氣價格已經從8月的歷史峰值大幅下跌。歐盟的天然氣儲備已經達到儲存容量的95%。異常溫暖的秋天對此有所幫助。建立儲備、提高能效和采購替代供應的迅速行動，減輕了對于歐洲可能耗盡能源儲備、家庭和企業難以渡過寒冬的擔憂。但歐洲還未脫離險境。渡過2023年冬天可能是更大的挑戰。