„Learning regulation“ as the key to hydrogen ramp-up

The shaping of the key cornerstones of the future hydrogen market design is entering the next round. As part of the Federal Network Agency’s second consultation on the “WaKandA” and “WasABi” specifications, German transmission system operators are once again actively contributing their own positions. “The establishment of uniform market rules, in particular including the instrument of continuous balancing combined with a helper/causer system, is expressly welcomed by the TSOs,” comments Barbara Fischer, Managing Director of FNB Gas.

“Setting a deadline by the middle of the year creates certainty for market participants,” Fischer continues, but expressly emphasizes: “However, the implementation deadlines must be based on the actual market ramp-up, the subsequent processes and the need for IT adjustments.”

In their comments on the draft specifications, the TSOs also argue that the design of the capacity products and their tariffs must also correspond to the phases of the hydrogen market ramp-up. “Due to the different developments on the production and demand side in the individual clusters – but also in the market in general – it should be possible to dynamically adapt the grid access rules “as a learning regulation”. This is the only way to optimally support the ramp-up”, argues Fischer.

Following the approval of the hydrogen core network by the Federal Network Agency last year, the TSOs are gradually implementing the projects and will put the first pipeline sections into operation this year and next.

Our positions are available in the downloads.