Stock-take of the hydrogen markets and their regulation in France, the Netherlands and Germany

Client: BE CREG (Belgian Federal Commission for Electricity and Gas Regulation)
Implementation period: December, 2023 - April, 2024 (Completed)
Geographic coverage: Belgium, France, Germany, The Netherlands

Theme: Energy
Topic: Energy Policy Regulation and Markets, Renewable and Low-carbon Energy
Experts: João Gorenstein Dedecca, Luc van Nuffel, Csinszka Bene, Andrea Finesso, Gergely Boldizsár

The objective of this assignment was to support CREG in fulfilling its mandate regarding the regulation of the hydrogen sector in Belgium by:

1. Provide an overview of the market dynamics (national strategies, specific support measures and market developments) and existing and planned provisions in the regulatory framework for hydrogen transport by pipelines in France, Germany and the Netherlands, including both transmission and distribution pipelines, and considering the repurposing of methane gas infrastructure;

2. Discuss the implications for the Belgium hydrogen sector (both development of supply and demand as well as of the associated infrastructure) including eventual best practices for mitigating the financial and other risks for developing pipeline hydrogen infrastructure, including through cost allocation between the natural gas and hydrogen sectors.”