Ramp-up ta­riff for the hy­dro­gen co­re net­work

The Bundesnetzagentur's Grand Ruling Chamber for Energy opened proceedings for the determination of a ramp-up tariff for the hydrogen core network [GBK-24-02-2#4] on 23 August 2024 in accordance with section 29(1) in conjunction with section 28r(2) of the Energy Industry Act (EnWG) and the determination of provisions on the setting of network tariffs to be charged for access to the hydrogen core network and on the establishment of a payback mechanism effective for a certain period (WANDA) of 6 June 2024.

The responsibility of the Grand Ruling Chamber derives from section 59(3) sentence 3 in conjunction with section 29(1), section 28o(3) and section 28r(2) of the Energy Industry Act (EnWG).

The determination will set the ramp-up tariff for the hydrogen core network in accordance with section 28q EnWG to be applied uniformly at all entry and exit points starting in 2025.

It is important especially in the early stages of setting up the hydrogen transport infrastructure to correct the imbalance between very high investment costs and a low demand for transport services. The Grand Ruling Chamber has already laid down regulations relating to network tariffs for the hydrogen core network in its WANDA determination. It has put in place an intertemporal payback mechanism that enables the core network operators to spread the costs of the core network over the whole of the payback period up to 2055.

The ramp-up tariff to be determined in these proceedings should be a marketable tariff, in other words it should be affordable for the network customers and must not endanger the ramp-up of the hydrogen market. The tariff should also be suitable to enable the costs to be recouped up to the end of the payback period in 2055. The level of the ramp-up tariff will therefore result in the core network operators having shortfalls in revenue in the first phase that should, however, be completely balanced out in the second phase.

The Bundesnetzagentur will carry out an assessment at least every three years to check whether the ramp-up tariff is still suitable to balance the intertemporal cost allocation account by 2055.

Consultation
The consultation process is expected to be launched this year.

GBK-24-02-2#4