The European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) and the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER) published a report on Tuesday 19 November in which they recommended updating the legislation and regulation of the gas sector in Europe, in order to facilitate the decarbonisation of the European energy sector, promote a competitive internal market and maximise the opportunities arising from sectoral coupling.
Recognising that the Clean Energy Package paves the way for the decarbonisation of the electricity sector, this document proposes legislative action - going beyond this package - to decarbonise the gas sector and for electricity and gas coupling beyond 2025.
Energy regulators believe, inter alia, that updated gas legislation should define and categorise so-called "carbon-free" gases and integrate them into existing gas markets by fully assessing their environmental benefits.
The report further recommends that " new investments in natural gas are to be assessed in line with the EU decarbonisation targets and that existing assets are evaluated for possible re-use - following consultation with neighbouring authorities and stakeholders - before decommissioning".
To read the report: https://bit.ly/3421rDR (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)