The Council of the European Union has adopted a regulation and a directive establishing common internal market rules for renewable and natural gases and hydrogen, as well as reforming the existing EU gas legislation. The package sets out rules for the organisation of the EU gas market and for the development of the future hydrogen market. It contains specific rules for the transport, supply and storage of natural gas and hydrogen, as well as for hydrogen infrastructure.
The new rules call for integrated and transparent network planning across the EU, under the principle of “energy efficiency first”. Gas and hydrogen network operators will prepare a 10-year EU network development plan. In addition, in order to phase-out of fossil fuels, long-term contracts for fossil gas will no longer be concluded as of 2049. The new rules promote the development of renewable gas and low-carbon gas, hydrogen in particular, notably in coal and carbon-intensive regions of the EU.
Member States will provide for tariff discounts and incentives, in order to facilitate their market and system integration, especially for the hydrogen market. In addition, a voluntary mechanism will also be set up to support the hydrogen market for five years. Member States will have two years to adapt their national legislation to the provisions of the directive.
This hydrogen and decarbonised gas markets package is part of Europe’s Fit for 55 batch of legislation and aims to update the existing regulation and directive on gas adopted in 2009.
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