The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG) has deplored the proposal for a “top-down” scenario for network planning, as presented by the European Commission in its Grids Package last December (see EUROPE 13770/4).
ENTSOG claims that this approach, which aims to favour European planning with an overall EU central scenario, will reduce the contribution of the three ENTSOs (ENTSO-E for electricity, ENNOH for hydrogen and ENTSOG for gas) to the energy scenarios for infrastructure planning and can “negatively impact” national energy plans and systems.
“The absence of the ENTSO’s technical expertise, hands-on experience and knowledge in this process will likely result in unrealistic scenarios, primarily based on ambitions, neglecting Member States’ real infrastructure needs”, explains ENTSOG in a press release.
Furthermore, the Network believes that by deleting “Interlinked Modelling” from its proposal, the Commission is ignoring the “existing and valuable” work of the ENTSOs on the common identification of system-wide needs.
ENTSOG also deplores the removal of the “Smart Gas Grids” category, which supports biomethane projects in particular, from the list of EU Projects of Common Interest (PCIs).
The Network also hopes that the conversion of natural gas infrastructures will not just be considered as an option for developers, but will be fully integrated into the Grids Package, in particular to support the deployment of hydrogen.
To see the ENTSOG recommendations: https://aeur.eu/f/kyx (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)