Today, ACER published its Opinion on gas and hydrogen national Network Development Plans (NDPs), assessing alignment between national and EU-level planning.
NDPs are national roadmaps prepared by gas transmission system operators (TSOs) and hydrogen network operators (HNOs) across EU Member States. They set out how each country’s networks should develop in the next decade(s) to meet evolving energy needs.
What is ACER’s role?
Every two years, ACER assesses how well national plans align with the EU-wide Ten-Year Network Development Plan (EU TYNDP), prepared by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG).
Following its assessment, ACER recommends ways to improve consistency between the two levels of planning, helping coordinate network development across borders and supporting national investments that reflect wider European needs.
What are ACER’s key findings?
Alignment between national and EU-wide planning varies across Member States and sectors. While gas network planning is well established, planning for hydrogen is still emerging.
ACER also identifies progress in several areas:
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Gas transmission networks are adapting to accommodate biomethane, while hydrogen injection into gas networks is permitted more widely.
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Network planning increasingly accounts for the decommissioning and repurposing of existing infrastructure.
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Market consultations are used more often to inform hydrogen planning.
What does ACER recommend?
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Strengthen the institutional framework for national plans, adopting a biennial planning cycle aligned with the EU TYNDP process, and ensuring effective regulatory oversight of NDPs.
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Improve transparency on planning methodologies, regulatory assessments and important project information, and strengthen stakeholder and market consultation.
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Enhance cross-border and cross-sectoral coordination, improving cooperation and data exchange between system operators.
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Better integrate decarbonisation measures, ensuring that NDPs reflect the most recent changes in the gas and hydrogen sectors.
What are the next steps?
ACER invites Member States and system operators to consider its recommendations to make network planning more consistent and transparent.
