(Berlin, Germany) - Hydrogen suppliers and users will be able to reserve entry and exit capacities for the future core network starting in 2026. The reservation will later be replaced by a capacity booking, according to the participating gas transmission system operators.
Two large clusters are to be created by 2029. Transitional transport will take place between Hanover and Magdeburg. The clusters will then be merged into the approved hydrogen core network. © Screenshot from the information paper of the hydrogen core network operators.
The key points of the reservation process have now been published. The approximately dozen companies are thus following the approach of European partners who are also launching corresponding network user processes. While the key regulations for the hydrogen market – including the Federal Network Agency's determination procedures (WaKandA, WasABi) – have not yet been finalized, they are about to be published and will be incorporated into the further development of the contract standards.
According to the plan, marketing will initially take place within clusters consisting of "fluidically connected networks." Through the gradual integration of the clusters, a comprehensive, interconnected infrastructure for hydrogen transport will be established. Within the clusters, capacities will be provided and marketed in supply zones. Transport between clusters will also be enabled.
The core network operators plan to publish a reservation agreement and the capacities of the clusters and supply zones for the years 2026 to 2030 this year. These capacities reflect the potential of the infrastructure planned up to the respective deadlines and could subsequently be reserved beyond 2030.
The 6-page information paper “Capacity reservations for hydrogen transport in the core network” The long-distance gas network operator is available free of charge as a PDF.
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The gas transmission system operators, including Gascade, will enable the reservation of capacities in the hydrogen core network at a single starting point by the operators at the beginning of 2026 © Gascade Gastransport GmbH
