The conversion of the German L-gas area to H-gas is one of the greatest challenges for securing the gas supply in Germany in the long term.
The background is the significant decline in domestic production of L-gas in conjunction with the likewise declining L-gas import volumes from the Netherlands. To take account of the decline in L-gas in terms of infrastructure, it is planned to convert the areas currently supplied with L-gas to H-gas. To this end, the transmission system operators (TSOs) have drawn up a conversion concept that is being continuously developed in cooperation with the distribution system operators. The Network Development Plan for Gas (NDP Gas) contains a detailed roadmap for the conversion of market areas currently supplied with L-gas to H-gas. In addition, transmission system operators shall publish the announced conversion areas and their expected conversion months.
Technical Background
Part of the German gas market is supplied with low calorific gas (L-gas). L-gas comes exclusively from German and Dutch production. The remaining supplies available in Germany (gas from Denmark, Norway/North Sea, Russia, or from LNG terminals) provide high-calorific natural gas (H-gas). The two different groups must be transported in separate systems for technical and legal-for-trade reasons. If customers are to be able to use H-gas instead of L-gas in the future, this will only work after their gas appliances have been adapted accordingly.
Conversion Planning
The current conversion planning is published in the 2021 Implementation Report. This includes:
- Germany-wide L-gas output and volume balances taking into account local conditions up to the year 2030
- Overview of the annual L-gas conversion areas
- Maps of the L-gas conversion areas
- Number of consumer appliances to be adapted by 2030
- Cumulative number of appliances to be adapted by 2030
A detailed allocation of the network points to the changeover areas and their changeover dates can be found in the gas database of the network development plan.
Bindingly Announced Conversion Areas
This table with the current status as of 01.04.2022 shows all changeover areas that have already been bindingly announced and are updated by the transmission system operators once a quarter. It also contains information on dependencies between the conversion areas and the technical conversion months currently planned.
Market Area Conversion Levy
Under Section 19a of the Energy Industry Act (EnWG), the costs incurred by a network operator for the necessary and permanent conversion of the gas quality from L-gas to H-gas are passed on to all network users throughout Germany. The costs of the conversion are passed on in the form of a specific charge, which the transmission system operators add to their exit charges.
Further Information
You can find further information on the subject of market area conversion under the following links:
