FNB Gas position paper on the draft bill for the Hydrogen Acceleration Act (WassBG)

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. The draft law falls short of its potential and does not take sufficient account of the challenges involved in developing the hydrogen infrastructure. No significant acceleration of procedures with regard to the approval of hydrogen infrastructures is to be expected with this draft law.

From the FNB’s point of view, the following adjustments to the law are particularly necessary to make the hydrogen ramp-up a success:

• The WassBG should be more closely aligned with the LNG Act: As a network operator, we have successfully driven forward the rapid development of the LNG infrastructure in Germany with the LNGG regulations. The LNGG therefore offers valuable points of reference for acceleration measures within the framework of the WassBG.
• In order to facilitate the rapid development of a hydrogen infrastructure, public procurement law for operators should be suspended or simplified along the lines of LNGG.
• The provisions of the WassBG should also apply in full to hydrogen pipelines, including those in Germany’s exclusive economic zone in the North Sea and Baltic Sea.

Our position paper is available in the downloads.