Cabinet decision on the National Hydrogen Strategy: „Construction of the core network must begin this year“

The transmission system operators welcome today’s adoption of the update of the National Hydrogen Strategy by the German cabinet. The strategy sets important guidelines for the rapid development of the national hydrogen infrastructure and for its integration into a European network.

Dr. Thomas Gößmann, Chairman of the Board of FNB Gas: “We share the objective of the National Hydrogen Strategy adopted by the Federal Cabinet to significantly accelerate the market ramp-up of hydrogen. With the planning status of the core network presented in mid-July, the German TSOs are proving that they can quickly and efficiently develop a hydrogen network that, as a first step, connects industrial consumers with generation sites, import points and storage facilities. If policymakers and industry continue to pull together, Germany can rapidly decarbonize essential industries.”

In this context, the NWS rightly emphasizes the need to create suitable framework conditions for the development of the hydrogen network from the perspective of the TSOs. Specifically, coherent legal requirements at the national, European and international levels are cited. Likewise, this includes consistent planning of the network, incentives for willingness to invest in pipeline rededication and new construction, and parallel operation of gas and hydrogen networks.

“We need to pick up the pace and start building the core network this year,” emphasizes Gößmann. “We therefore hope for clarification of the investment framework and timely entry into force of the amendments to the Energy Industry Act in the fall as the necessary legal basis. The further expansion stages of the hydrogen network, which take future hydrogen requirements into account, must be launched as quickly as possible as part of integrated network development planning for hydrogen and gas anchored in law.”