The conversion of the German L-gas area to H-gas is one of the greatest challenges for securing the gas supply in Germany in the long term.
The background is the significant decline in domestic production of L-gas in conjunction with the likewise declining L-gas import volumes from the Netherlands. To take account of the decline in L-gas in terms of infrastructure, it is planned to convert the areas currently supplied with L-gas to H-gas. The transmission system operators (TSOs) have drawn up a conversion concept for this, which is being continuously developed in cooperation with the distribution system operators. The Gas and Hydrogen Network Development Plan contains a detailed roadmap for the conversion of market areas still supplied with L-gas to H-gas. In addition, transmission system operators shall publish the announced conversion areas and their expected conversion months.
Technical Background
Part of the German gas market is supplied with low calorific gas (L-gas). L-gas comes exclusively from German and Dutch production. The other sources available in Germany (gas from Denmark, Norway/North Sea and LNG plants) supply high-calorific natural gas (H-gas). The two different groups must be transported in separate systems for technical and legal-for-trade reasons. If customers are to be able to use H-gas instead of L-gas in the future, this will only work after their gas appliances have been adapted accordingly.
Conversion Planning
The current changeover plan is published in the interim report L-H gas changeover 2024. This includes:
- Germany-wide L-gas output and volume balances taking into account local conditions up to the year 2030
- Overview of the annual L-gas conversion areas
- Maps of the L-gas conversion areas
- Number of consumer appliances to be adapted by 2030
- Cumulative number of appliances to be adapted by 2030
A detailed allocation of the network points to the changeover areas and their changeover dates can be found in the gas database of the network development plan.
Bindingly Announced Conversion Areas
This table with the current status as of 31.12.2024 shows all conversion areas that have already been bindingly announced and are updated by the transmission system operators every six months. It also contains information on dependencies between the conversion areas and the technical conversion months currently planned.
Market Area Conversion Levy
Under Section 19a of the Energy Industry Act (EnWG), the costs incurred by a network operator for the necessary and permanent conversion of the gas quality from L-gas to H-gas are passed on to all network users throughout Germany. The costs of the conversion are passed on in the form of a specific charge, which the transmission system operators add to their exit charges.
Further Information
You can find further information on the subject of market area conversion under the following links:
