Gas Net­work De­vel­op­ment Plan 2022-2032

• Request for amendment to the Gas NDP 2022-2032
• Consultation results of the Gas NDP 2022-2032
• NDP consultation
• Scenario framework Gas NDP 2022-2032

Request for amendment to the Gas NDP 2022-2032

Phase 2

The infrastructure plan must include all measures that are effective and necessary for secure and reliable network operation in the next 10 years. These include all measures for enhancing, reinforcing and expanding the network in line with requirements and for ensuring security of supply.

The Bundesnetzagentur can request the TSOs to amend the draft NDP within three months of publishing the consultation results.

On December 2023 the Bundesnetzagentur made use of this option and submitted a request for amendment to the TSOs.

With a total of 133 measures and an investment volume of €4.1bn the request for amendment confirms most of the measures proposed by the TSOs.

The confirmed measures cover:

• safeguarding the security of supply against the backdrop of the different flow situation;
• transporting additional LNG volumes;
• meeting the needs of gas-fired power plants;
• transitioning from low-calorific to high-calorific gas;
• converting natural gas infrastructure to hydrogen in the long term through minor expansion measures in the natural gas network (natural gas-enhancing measures).

The publication of the request for amendment places an obligation on the TSOs to incorporate the changes issued into the existing NDP within the next three months.

Legal basis: Section 15a EnWG; Section 15a Abs. 3 S. 5 EnWG

Consultation results of the Gas NDP 2022-2032

Phase 2

The actual and potential network users had the opportunity in the Bundesnetzagentur's consultation process from 16 May until 13 June 2023 to submit comments on the draft Gas NDP 2022-2032.

Twenty-five responses to the consultation were received.

The consultation results are linked below

Gesetzliche Grundlage: Section 15a(3) sentence 1 EnWG

NDP consultation

Phase 2

Following the submission of the draft Gas NDP 2022-2032 by the TSOs, the Bundesnetzagentur carried out a written consultation of all actual and potential network users.

Scenario framework Gas NDP 2022-2032

Phase 1

The first step in the process of drawing up the Gas NDP is the development of a scenario framework by the TSOs.

The TSOs make assumptions about developments in gas production, supply and consumption as well as exchange with other countries.

The scenario framework, published in odd-numbered years, includes planned investments in regional and Community-wide networks, storage facilities and LNG regasification facilities as well as possible supply interruptions.

It forms the basis of the national Gas NDP that the TSOs must draw up every two years and present to the Bundesnetzagentur.

Legal Basis: Section 15a sentence 4 EnWG

Consultation document on the scenario framework

The TSOs published the consultation document on the scenario framework for the Gas NDP 2022-2032 on 21 June 2021. A central theme of the document is hydrogen and green gases as well as the related market survey on hydrogen generation and demand.

Stakeholders had until 16 July 2021 to state their views. The TSOs held an online workshop on 1 July 2021 as an added means of dialogue with stakeholders.

FNB Gas then published the consultant results. The gas network operators revised the scenario framework to take account of the submitted opinions and then submitted it to the Bundesnetzagentur for confirmation. FNB Gas also compiled and published maps showing the injection and withdrawal of hydrogen in German reported in the market survey on hydrogen generation and demand.

Confirmation of the scenario framework

The Bundesnetzagentur confirmed on 20 January 2022 the scenario framework for the 2022-2032 network development plan scenario framework for the 2022-2032 network development plan presented by the TSOs on 16 August 2021.

In the next stage of the procedure, the TSOs will draw up the Gas NDP based on the assumptions set out in the confirmed scenario framework.

Legal Basis: Section 15a(1) sentence 7 EnWG

Partial new decision of the scenario framework confirmation

The Bundesnetzagentur partially revoked the confirmation of the scenario framework for the Gas NDP 2022-2032 and made a new decision on 11 November 2022. The decision adds three modelling variants (the LNGplus security of supply variants) to the scenario framework of 20 January 2022 that was submitted by the TSOs. As a result, the effects of the war in Ukraine can still be taken into account in the current NDP cycle and the infrastructure urgently needed for security of supply can be swiftly implemented.

Legal Basis: Section 49 Administrative Procedure Act VwVfG; Section 15a(1) sentence 7 in conjunction with section 15a(1) sentence 4 sentence 6 EnWG

Decision in parallel to the confirmation

The Bundesnetzagentur issued the following decision in parallel to its confirmation:

Legal Basis: Section 66(2) para 3 EnWG

Decision in parallel to the request for amendment

The Bundesnetzagentur issued the following decision in parallel to its request for amendment:

Legal Basis: Section 66(2) para 3 EnWG