Consultation on expanded Scenario Framework for Gas NDP 2022-2032 gets underway

• Three new modelling variants (LNGplus security of supply variants) for replacing Russian gas volumes with LNG and hydrogen
• Updated natural gas demand forecasts for the LNGplus variants
• 30 September 2022: Deadline for capacity reservation and network expansion requests for LNG facilities (sections 38 and 39 of Gas Network Access Ordinance – GasNZV)
• 16 October 2022: Deadline for comments on the expanded Scenario Framework

“The Russian war of aggression in Ukraine has fundamentally changed the parameters of the gas sector. Greater diversification of gas sources, for example through LNG, and a rapid switch from natural gas to hydrogen will be key to drastically reducing dependence on Russian natural gas or even completely replacing Russian gas volumes,” said Inga Posch, FNB Gas Managing Director on the occasion of the publication of the consultation document on the expanded Scenario Framework. “These changes have an impact on natural gas supply and demand and hence inevitably on network planning. We are taking these developments into account by adding three security of supply variants to the Scenario Framework for the Gas Network Development Plan 2022-2032,” Posch continued.

As announced previously, the gas transmission system operators are today starting the consultation on the expanded Scenario Framework for the Gas Network Development Plan 2022-2032 in accordance with section 15a of the German Energy Industry Act (EnWG). The new LNGplus security of supply variants proposed by the amendment envisage the complete replacement of Russian natural gas by LNG, additional volumes at cross-border interconnection points and hydrogen, and are based on adjusted demand forecasts.

Market participants can submit written comments on the scenario framework as of today. Market participants now have until 16 October 2022 to submit their comments on the Scenario Framework by e-mail to info@fnb-gas.de in a format suitable for electronic processing If any particular comment or parts of a statement made are not intended to be passed on to the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) or if statements are not meant to be published, the consultation participant must indicate this accordingly.

Capacity reservation requests in accordance with section 38 and expansion requests in accordance with section 39 of the Gas Network Access Ordinance (GasNZV) for LNG facilities must be submitted to the relevant gas TSOs by 30 September 2022 in order to be incorporated into the amended Scenario Framework for the Gas NDP 2022-2032. Only then can they be taken into account in the complemented Scenario Framework.

The NDP consultation document is expected to be published at the end of 2022.