According to EU regulations, the conventional gas supply in Germany is to be phased out by 2045. But what does this mean for the existing gas distribution networks? Municipalities and network operators are faced with the challenge of deciding between dismantling and a possible conversion to alternative energy sources such as hydrogen.
In a guest article for Der Neue Kämmerer, our experts analyse the current developments:
BGH judgement on concession contracts
The Federal Court of Justice's landmark judgement from 2024 on the ownership and dismantling obligation of grid operators has far-reaching consequences for existing and future concession agreements.
New regulatory requirements
With KANU 2.0, the Federal Network Agency has presented new amortisation models that enable a more flexible economic assessment of the gas network infrastructure. The EU has also introduced decommissioning planning for natural gas distribution grids for the first time with the new Gas Directive.
Municipal challenges
Particularly in the case of new concession agreements, cities and municipalities must distribute economic risks fairly and address the question of whether decommissioning or switching to hydrogen is an economically viable solution.
The future of gas distribution grids is a key issue in the energy transition. You can find out how local authorities and network operators can create long-term planning security in the full article.
