Resort: Energy Future

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.

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.

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.

TSOs welcome legislative will to speed up planning and approval procedures

The European Commission wants to revise the legal framework for energy networks – an important step towards establishing an integrated European energy system.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.