EnWG amendment: Federal Council provides important impetus for the transformation of gas grids

The current resolutions of the Federal Council on the EnWG amendment send an important signal for the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy and the necessary transformation of the energy infrastructure in Germany.

We particularly welcome:

• the proposed adjustments to the financing of the hydrogen core network to reduce the deductible to 15% and the consideration of ramp-up and investment risks in the future return on equity,
• the call for the creation of sustainable financing mechanisms for infrastructure beyond the core network, such as financial transfers and intertemporal cost allocation mechanisms,
• the demand for practical improvements to distribution network development plans and obligations to tolerate decommissioned pipelines of gas network operators.

Now it is the Bundestag’s turn: the impetus from the federal states must be taken up in order to turn the draft law into an enabling law for the transformation of the gas grids and to promote investment security, predictability and the hydrogen ramp-up.