Quant with Vahab
Quant Systems Lab · Control Systems for Quantitative Finance

Gas Storage Optionality

Gas storage assets embed an option to shift volume across time, constrained by capacity and injection/withdrawal limits.

Explanation

Storage allows injecting gas when prices are low and withdrawing when prices are high, subject to operational limits.

The value of storage depends on term-structure shape, volatility of spreads, and correlations across maturities.

Pricing and hedging gas storage requires dynamic optimisation, not just static valuation of individual forwards.


gasstoragetime spreadoptionality
Interactive visualisation

This diagram shows a gas forward curve, a simple storage policy, and the resulting inventory path. The policy injects when prices are low and withdraws when prices are high; the value is the net spread captured.

Approx. strategy value ≈ -2358 € (per unit of capacity-scale)Max storage level ≈ 75.0 / 100.0 (75% utilised)
Delivery monthPrice (€/MWh) and storage levelJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec0183755Injection triggerWithdrawal triggerLine: forward pricesBlue line: storage levelBars: injections (blue) and withdrawals (green)Storage optionality is the ability to shift volume across time between triggers.
Numbers
Total injections ≈ 75.0 units
Total withdrawals ≈ 0.0 units
Strategy value ≈ -2358
Interpretation

Storage optionality is the right, not the obligation, to buy in low-price periods and sell in high-price periods within capacity and rate constraints. The triggers here implement a simple heuristic strategy.

The economic value comes from the shape and volatility of the forward curve and from how much inventory and flexibility you have. Real valuation solves a dynamic optimisation problem; this picture keeps the mental model of shifting volume across time to harvest spreads.