For the first time, the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) is assessing the integration of hydrogen projects into ENTSOG’s Ten-Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP) 2022 for the gas and hydrogen sectors.
ACER welcomes the fact that the TYNDP places increased focus on the energy transition, that the dual gas system modelling approach simultaneously takes into account hydrogen and conventional natural gas networks, and that the TYNDP effectively covers hydrogen-related projects for the first time.
However, the Agency recognises that the lack of a complete legal framework for hydrogen regulation is hindering the assessment of hydrogen infrastructure projects for some regulatory authorities.
It also believes that future TYNDPs should evolve once market signals and final regulations for hydrogen are defined.
ACER then points out that the investment costs for all the TYNDP 2022 projects are unprecedented (€110 billion) and incomplete due to declared confidentiality of project costs by certain promoters, and that hydrogen projects, mainly in the initial phases, account for almost 70% of these costs (€77.5 billion).
To see ACER’s opinion, go to https://aeur.eu/f/852 (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)