Objective Amid the ongoing emphasis on the “dual-carbon” goals and energy security, natural gas consumption in China continues to grow, with external import dependence remaining high. However, gas storage capacity development lags significantly, and insufficient storage and peak-shaving capabilities have become critical constraints on supply security and market stability. To ensure national energy security while balancing market efficiency and sustainable enterprise development, this study draws on the European Union’s natural gas storage experience to propose a modern storage development path tailored to China’s national conditions.

Methods Comparative institutional analysis and policy text deconstruction methods were employed. The European Union’s natural gas market reform process and gas storage regulatory framework were systematically reviewed. By integrating European Union gas storage operation data, regulations, and member states’ implementation rules, the dual-track mechanism of “mandatory dominance + market supplement” was summarized. Simultaneously, China’s gas storage facility scale, market structure, and recent policy developments were compared, and recommendations for optimizing China’s natural gas storage mechanism were proposed.

Results Through institutional measures such as phased filling targets, the “use-it-or-lose-it” rule, and the combined use of subsidies and fines, the European Union significantly improved the security resilience of its natural gas supply while maintaining market participation. Key issues in China’s natural gas storage mechanism were identified, including unclear storage classifications and responsibility boundaries, poor transmission of price-differential signals and peak-shaving cost pass-through, limited independent operation and service capabilities, and inadequate cross-regional coordination. Based on these findings, three optimization strategies were proposed: (1) Establish a framework for four storage types—strategic, mandatory, emergency, and market-based; (2) Develop a peak-valley gas pricing mechanism linked to electricity prices and design a pricing model for gas storage operations to support pipeline transmission balance; (3) Implement fiscal support strategies, issue special storage bonds, and establish regional coordination and storage linkage mechanisms to enhance resource allocation.

Conclusion The market-oriented development of China’s gas storage facilities is best supported by a dual-track mechanism combining strict liability constraints with market-based regulatory incentives. This approach can ensure basic supply security capacity through legislation and regulation, stimulate market vitality through price differential and cost pass-through mechanisms, and improve resource allocation efficiency through regional coordination. These research findings provide valuable references for optimizing China’s gas storage policies and market mechanisms.