Forecast of Future Natural Gas Market Demand in China and Analysis of the Situation of Gas Storage Capacity Construction

In the context of dual carbon, with the adjustment of global energy structure and the development of clean energy, natural gas will become a substitute for traditional energy and an important component of sustainable energy. In the future, the proportion of natural gas in the energy structure will increase year by year. At present, China’s natural gas industry is developing rapidly, with the promotion of new energy and clean energy policies, as well as the continuous acceleration of coal to gas and coal to electricity. The demand for natural gas in China has been increasing year by year, with natural gas consumption reaching 366.3 bcm in 2022, expected to reach 538 bcm in 2030, and 594.2 bcm in 2035. The safe supply of natural gas also faces new challenges. As an important component of the construction of the natural gas production, supply, storage, and sales system, the construction of underground gas storage depots is of great significance for improving China’s natural gas industry, ensuring the national economy and people’s livelihood, and maintaining national energy security. This article comprehensively considers the four major industries such as chemical and residential gas consumption, as well as the conversion of coal to gas and coal to electricity in the northern region. It predicts the future demand for natural gas in China and the demand for gas storage capacity construction in this context. From 2025 to 2035, a peak shaving market area in the western region, a peak shaving hub area in the central region, and a consumption market area in the eastern region will be formed, and efforts will be made to build UGS warehouses with a WGV accounting for 10% or more of natural gas consumption, With the promotion of new energy policies such as natural gas power generation, efforts will be made to build UGS facilities with a WGV accounting for 16% or more of natural gas consumption after 2035, forming a peak shaving and strategic reserve pattern for UGS facilities in the western and northeastern import corridor areas, achieving a peak shaving and strategic reserve of 79.3–83.6 bcm.