Grid fee for hydrogen core grid

Bio-LNG is certainly a niche issue. For heavy goods vehicles, it is basically the only decarbonisation option currently available. But politically, this is not really wanted. Neither HGV tolls nor fleet restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions take into account the carbon neutrality of the fuel. When CH4 is burnt in the combustion engine, CO2 is emitted from the exhaust. The fact that this CO2 – or even more CO2 – was previously captured in the fuel production process is irrelevant in the tank-to-wheel calculation. Bio-LNG only counts towards the GHG quota in the transport sector. The extra money that can be earned by selling the quota is one of the reasons why individual companies are focusing on Bio-LNG. Erdgas Südwest Bio-LNG started regular operation of a liquefaction plant in April. In an interview, Philipp Machauer, the company's Commercial Director, explained a very interesting competitive situation. Biomethane can practically be liquefied into Bio-LNG in Zeebrugge. From his point of view, this is not exactly fair competition. I think it is a fascinating regulatory question whether this is the case or not. I have reported on virtual liquefaction in the past. Based on the conversation with Machauer, I have spoken informally with a number of market participants to understand the issue. Readers will find the results of these discussions and the interview in this edition.

Naturally, I have also summarised the contents of the coalition agreement relevant to the gas industry in this edition. If the SPD (Social Democrats) members vote in favour, you will also know the names of the ministers when you hold this magazine in your real or virtual hands. You can then check the accuracy of the speculation about names that I report in this issue. In the editorial of last month's issue, I wrote that Germany lacked a think tank close to the CDU (Christian Democrats) that focused on energy issues. After a few conversations, I learned that Epico Climate Innovation is a research institute in Berlin with close ties to the CDU. It was founded five years ago. The possible ‘return’ of large volumes of Russian pipeline gas and the impact of Trump's policies remain the main geopolitical issues in the gas market. Trump's tariff policy dominated gas trading in the first half of April, as reported.

Enjoy reading this edition!

Dr. Heiko Lohmann
Freelancer

E-Mail +49 30 8824005

"Topic of the month: Grid fee for hydrogen core grid"

In the last topic (energate Gasmarkt 04/25), I briefly mentioned that the responsible Grand Ruling Chamber (GBK) of BNetzA wants to set a market ramp-up fee of 25 €/kWh/h/a for the hydrogen core grid. I wrote last year that I expect a fee in the range of 15 to 20 €/kWh/h/a (energate Gasmarkt 04/24). Why? Such a range was identified in an expert opinion on the validation of the financing model for the hydrogen core grid as a fee that would not hinder a market ramp-up but would also make it possible to balance the amortisation account in 2055, assuming the hydrogen market ramp-up is successful. GBK considered this expert opinion as part of its WANDA ruling last year. The ruling regulates the general methods for determining the grid tariffs in the core grid. On 26 March 2025, the GBK published the following documents, thereby specifying the tariffication for the hydrogen core grid:

• The draft ruling for determining the market ramp-up fee.

• A report entitled ‘Background scenarios for determining the ramp-up fee in the hydrogen core grid. The expert responsible for the opinion is Benjamin Pfluger from Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geotechnologies (IEG). Mr Pfluger and the IEG were also responsible for the above-mentioned report on the validation of the financing model for the core grid, which was prepared for the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) at the beginning of 2024 (energate Gasmarkt 04/24).