The transmission system operators (TSOs) have reacted with disappointment and incomprehension to the specifications for the future regulatory framework published today by the Federal Network Agency. The defined framework for the future regulatory periods neither creates planning security nor promotes investment. On the contrary, the special requirements of the transmission grid are not taken into account.
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FNB Gas welcomes the BMWE’s draft bill to amend the Energy Industry Act and other energy legislation to implement the European Gas and Hydrogen Single Market Package as a decisive step towards transforming the gas market into a climate-neutral energy system. Hydrogen plays a key role in this – for security of supply, resilience and the decarbonization of entire industries.
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The Economic and Energy Committee in the Bundestag is holding an expert hearing on the Hydrogen Acceleration Act today. Our Managing Director Barbara Fischer presents the perspective of the transmission system operators and shows how we can really pick up the pace.
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FNB Gas welcomes the BNetzA’s approach of using the KOSMO draft specification to provide early clarity on the design of the charging system for the hydrogen core network, even if the planned product differentiation has not yet taken place.
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FNB Gas welcomes the Federal Government’s cabinet resolution on the Hydrogen Acceleration Act of October 1, 2025. However, the transmission system operators also see a need for targeted adjustments in order to effectively accelerate the development of the hydrogen core network.
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On August 6, the German government launched the draft bill for an amendment to the Energy Industry Act. Consultations are currently taking place in the German Bundestag. Among other things, this concerns the acceleration of planning and approval procedures in the context of grid expansion. FNB Gas supports the planned amendment to the Energy Industry Act to speed up planning and approval procedures, but points out the need for further improvement.
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On behalf of its members, FNB Gas comments on the following current determination procedures of the Enlarged Ruling Chamber for Energy (GBK) of the Federal Network Agency:
Continue reading → The working paper published by the BNetzA on January 16 on the current status of its deliberations on defining the methodology contains no indication that the BNetzA has addressed the methodological weaknesses of the previous efficiency procedure.
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The TSOs welcome the draft determination of Decision Chamber 9 regarding the non-application of discounts for renewable and low-carbon gas at storage points and interconnection points between Member States (interconnection points).
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The EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) carried out a consultation on the efficiency comparison for transmission system operators on July 17.
Continue reading → With this statement, FNB Gas comments on individual points of the draft GasNEF determination.
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In the second part of our short video series, Dr Stefan Tetzlaff and Elvin Eyubov talk about how good communication makes a difference: for our work and projects, and for Germany’s energy future.
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The FNB Gas brings together the German transmission system operators. But what do we actually do all day, what drives us? We would like to give you an insight behind the scenes with a short video series over the summer.
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TSOs welcome legislative will to speed up planning and approval procedures
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TSOs welcome legislative will to speed up planning and approval procedures
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The European Commission wants to revise the legal framework for energy networks – an important step towards establishing an integrated European energy system.
Continue reading → With the KSpG, the German government is setting the course for the use of CCS technology and the transportation of CO2. We appeal to political decision-makers to stay the course in their financial and political commitment to the hydrogen ramp-up and the hydrogen core network and to enable CCS as a complementary option for decarbonizing industries with heavy and unavoidable emissions.
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A large association initiative from the energy sector and industry is calling on the German government to initiate a hydrogen alliance at EU level. In this way, the agreement in the coalition agreement to play a leading role in a European hydrogen initiative can be filled with life and the ramp-up of the European hydrogen economy can be driven forward more successfully. The associations outline possible goals and fields of action in an impulse paper.
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For the Trading Hub Europe (THE) market area the transmission system operators have determined the uniform tariff from 1 January 2026 on the basis of the Federal Network Agency’s (BNetzA) REGENT 2026 decision.
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The Vereinigung der Fernleitungsnetzbetreiber Gas e.V. is the umbrella organization of the major supra-regional gas transmission companies. We plan the arteries of a climate-neutral and secure energy future. We are also the point of contact for politicians, the media and the public.
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FNB Gas welcomes the fact that the Federal Network Agency is taking important steps with the current consultations on the ramp-up tariff for the hydrogen core network and on the key issues paper to supplement the WANDA regulation in order to clarify central questions regarding the design of the tariff system for the hydrogen core network.
In their statement on the ramp-up tariff, the transmission system operators support the methodology and assumptions of the underlying expert opinion and consider the proposed tariff of €25.00/kWh/h/a to be necessary in order to ensure the full refinancing of the hydrogen core network by 2055. However, in view of the uncertainties surrounding the market ramp-up, they emphasize the importance of a regular review and dynamic adjustment of the tariff. Anchor customers from industry and power generation as well as targeted funding instruments are crucial to ensure a successful market ramp-up.
The consultation on the definition of WANDA is also an important building block for the further development of the regulatory framework. The differentiated product design envisaged therein creates a basis for pricing that is fair to the source and efficient network use. At the same time, it must be ensured that discounts and multipliers do not jeopardize the refinancing of the hydrogen core network.
Both consultations are closely related and must therefore also be considered in conjunction with each other. The interaction of multipliers and discounts must therefore also be taken into account when determining the ramp-up tariff in order to avoid a structural deficit in the amortization account.
The statements are available in the download area.
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FNB Gas welcomes the Federal Network Agency’s (BNetzA) consideration of an exemption for price discounts at storage and cross-border interconnection points for the injection and withdrawal of renewable or low-carbon gases in accordance with Art. 18 Gas Regulation.
Continue reading → The German transmission system operators are once again actively participating in the Federal Network Agency’s second consultation on the “WaKandA” and “WasABi” specifications with their own positions.
Continue reading → The TSOs welcome the so-called N.E.S.T. process for the further development of the regulatory system. However, the BNetzA’s considerations submitted for consultation are not yet sufficient to make the regulatory framework fit for the challenges of the transformation.
Continue reading → Ruling Chamber 9 of the Federal Network Agency will consult on the specifications from 13.12.2024 to 13.02.2025:
and from 29.01. to 13.02.2025 for determination:
was carried out. FNB Gas participated in this process by submitting comments on behalf of its members:
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FNB Gas supports the objective formulated in the SES 2024 to better coordinate individual planning processes and comprehensively drive forward the transformation in Germany. The strategy is an important step towards integrated energy infrastructure planning. A successful transformation of the energy system requires a cross-sector strategy that takes into account the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy and the further development of the gas grids.
Continue reading → The NEST process for the further development of the regulatory system is to be welcomed in principle. However, the BNetzA is not achieving its goal of making the regulatory framework fit for the challenges of the transformation with its current considerations.
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As many transmission system operators are affected by electromagnetic interference as a result of increased utilization of the electricity grids, FNB Gas e.V. has commented on the draft specification on behalf of its member companies as follows:
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With today’s vote of confidence in the German Bundestag, Chancellor Scholz has paved the way for early elections on February 23, 2025. It is therefore clear that the elections to the German Bundestag on February 23, 2025 will also provide an opportunity to set the course for a secure, affordable and climate-neutral energy future.
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The Association of Gas Transmission System Operators (FNB Gas) has re-elected Dr. Thomas Gößmann, Managing Director of Thyssengas GmbH, as Chairman of the Executive Board for the next two years at its General Meeting.
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FNB Gas welcomes the German government’s “Import Strategy for Hydrogen and Hydrogen Derivatives” (July 2024) on this fundamental aspect of the hydrogen ramp-up. It will not be possible to meet the demand for hydrogen in Germany without imports. In this respect, the import strategy contains many important aspects that we as an association support.
Continue reading → In our statement, we support the position of the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) and also make points that reflect the special features of natural gas grids.
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As part of the hearing on the Hydrogen Acceleration Act (WassBG) in the Committee for Climate Protection and Energy in the German Bundestag, Barbara Fischer, Managing Director of FNB Gas, emphasized the importance of acceleration measures for the rapid development of the hydrogen infrastructure.
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FNB Gas welcomes the efforts made by politicians as part of the 2024 EnWG amendment to strengthen the secure operation of the electricity transmission grid and security of supply.
The amendments, particularly in Section 49a EnWG, provide clear regulations on the reimbursement of costs for protection and security measures in the event of increased network capacity utilization.
The TSOs criticize the fact that their role in the redesign of the regulatory system has not yet been sufficiently taken into account. They are calling for all aspects of the NEST process to be considered in context and brought together in a coherent overall concept.
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The hydrogen market design is taking shape: In their statement, the transmission system operators expressly welcome the Federal Network Agency’s (BNetzA) move to establish a basic model for grid access and the balancing model at an early stage.
Continue reading → in view of the climate targets in the draft “KANU 2.0”.
The TSOs believe that the main objective of this regulation, to ensure the complete refinancing of gas grid investments and to enable flexibility, has been implemented in principle in the draft.
Tomorrow, the Bundestag will discuss the Hydrogen Acceleration Act (WassBG) at first reading. The law is crucial for the start and success of the hydrogen economy, because without infrastructure, an essential foundation for the hydrogen market is missing.
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FNB Gas welcomes the BMWK’s consultation on the “Draft law to accelerate the availability of hydrogen and to amend further legal framework conditions for the hydrogen ramp-up”. The draft is aimed at a large number of facilities for the import, production and storage of hydrogen and underlines the public interest in the accelerated implementation of this important part of the hydrogen infrastructure.
Continue reading → The newly established Coordination Office for Integrated Gas and Hydrogen Network Development Planning (KO.NEP) officially starts work today.
Continue reading → FNB Gas welcomes the BMWK’s consultation on the “Draft law to accelerate the availability of hydrogen and to amend further legal framework conditions for the hydrogen ramp-up”. The draft is aimed at a large number of facilities for the import, production and storage of hydrogen and underlines the public interest in the accelerated implementation of this important part of the hydrogen infrastructure.
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For the goal of greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045 and the transformation of the energy system by then, gaseous energy sources are the second main pillar of the energy supply alongside renewable electricity generation. In order to achieve the climate targets, the transformation of the entire gas supply and thus the entire gas infrastructure to climate-neutral gases must therefore be made possible.
Continue reading → The aim of this regulation must be to ensure the complete refinancing of gas grid investments and to allow sufficient flexibility to allow the imputed useful lives to end before 2045.
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Thank you for your interest in the Germany-wide survey of infrastructure requirements for the electricity and hydrogen grid. The market survey for hydrogen projects (WEB) received a total of 1724 project notifications. On expiry of the deadline on 22.03.2024, the reported data was write-protected and is considered reported. The registered projects remain in the associated database and can still be viewed – but not changed or deleted – by project registrants after March 22, 2024.
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For the transmission system operators, the transformation of the infrastructure has already begun with the planning of the hydrogen core network. In regulatory terms, their implementation will be in full swing by the middle of the 4th regulatory period and the next base year (2025).
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The first joint survey of infrastructure requirements by the transmission system operators (TSOs) for the preparation of the scenario framework drafts for the electricity, gas and hydrogen network development plans starts today.
Continue reading → The electricity and gas TSOs are now setting a milestone for sector coupling with the first joint survey of infrastructure requirements for electricity and hydrogen. The network operators will use specially developed web applications to ask existing and potential customers about their future needs. Based on this information, the grid operators can develop the corresponding infrastructure in line with demand and thus ensure a reliable energy supply for the future.
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The transmission system operators (TSOs) generally welcome the development of a target picture of the integrated energy system, in which the infrastructure requirements are also clearly taken into account.
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FNB Gas e.V. is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. On this occasion, the association discussed with guests from politics, the energy sector and industry at the hydrogen infrastructure conference how the market ramp-up of hydrogen can be further accelerated together.
Continue reading → The regulations of Part 3a of the EnWG with the requirements on gas storage levels are to be extended until April 2027. This is based in particular on the fact that the onshore LNG terminals are expected to come on stream in mid-2027, from which point a further easing of the supply situation can be expected. The transmission system operators expressly support this approach. It has been shown that the legal regulations are suitable for the safe filling of gas storage facilities in Germany.
The intended amendment to Section 49b (1) Sentence 1 of the German Energy Industry Act (EnWG), which is intended to allow an extension of the temporary higher utilization of the electricity grid until the end of March 2027, is to be expressly welcomed as a measure that makes sense in terms of energy and the economy. Nevertheless, the temporary increase in capacity utilization associated with an acquiescence obligation represents a considerable expense for the TSO, which is not adequately taken into account by law. In the absence of concrete legal regulations, the contractual arrangements between the transmission system operator and the TSO are still subject to various uncertainties (e.g., the extent of the obligation to bear costs). In addition, the short-term approval of the necessary protection and safeguard measures also represents an additional burden for the TSO in the absence of legally manifested acceleration regulations. Therefore, the consequences for the affected operators of technical infrastructures must be given greater focus. The TSOs made concrete proposals for this in the course of the hearing with the associations.
The complete statement of the FNB Gas is available in the downloads.
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