EnWG Amendment: Further Developing Gas Networks as the Backbone of the Transformation

• EnWG amendment sends a clear signal: gas networks are part of the climate-neutral energy infrastructure
• The use of networks for renewable gases must now be reliably secured
• Kehler: “Transformation means further developing existing infrastructure—our gas networks are part of the solution.”

Today, the Bundestag is holding the first reading of the amendment to the Energy Industry Act (EnWG). By transposing the EU Gas Market Package into national law, key decisions are being made for the future of gas network infrastructure. From the perspective of Die Gas- und Wasserstoffwirtschaft, the amendment is an important step toward an integrated and future-proof energy infrastructure in Germany.

The EnWG amendment will play a decisive role in determining whether the transformation of Germany’s energy system can succeed in an efficient, affordable, and industrially viable way. Alongside the development of a hydrogen market, it must ensure that renewable and decarbonised gases such as biomethane can be permanently integrated into the energy transition. “The amendment shows that gas networks will continue to be needed in a climate-neutral energy system. They are a prerequisite for bringing renewable gases into the market quickly, efficiently, and across the board,” explains Dr. Timm Kehler, CEO of Die Gas- und Wasserstoffwirtschaft. “This puts an end to the idea that energy policy can be driven by shutting down infrastructure built up over decades.”

The amendment thus creates an important foundation for further developing existing infrastructure. The key challenge now will be to reliably secure its use for renewable gases. For renewable gases such as hydrogen and biomethane to contribute to security of supply and climate protection, stable and long-term framework conditions are needed for network access and operation, as well as for investments in production facilities and networks.

From the industry’s perspective, there is still a need for improvement. In particular, the currently proposed timeframes for network access do not yet send the right signals. “We now have a perspective for the use of green gases. Those who politically promote their deployment must also create the framework conditions to ensure they can reliably enter the market,” Kehler continues. The EnWG amendment thus lays the foundation for the long-term use of gas infrastructure in a climate-neutral energy system.