The Hydrogen and Gas Decarbonisation Package, adopted in July 2024, updates the EU’s internal gas market framework to reflect the shift from fossil natural gas to renewable and low-carbon gases, including hydrogen. It consists of two core pieces of legislation:
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1789 on the internal markets for renewable gases, natural gas and hydrogen
- Directive (EU) 2024/1788 on common rules for the internal markets for renewable gases, natural gas and hydrogen
The package replaces Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 and Directive 2009/73/EC from the Third Energy Package. It introduces a dedicated regulatory regime for hydrogen networks, updates methane system planning and access rules, and creates the conditions for decarbonised gas market integration.
It sets out rules on:
- Network access for hydrogen, renewable gases, and low-carbon gases.
- Unbundling and certification of hydrogen operators
- Cross-border system development planning and ENNOH creation (European Network of Network Operators for Hydrogen)
- Consumer rights, switching, and protection in gas and hydrogen retail markets.
- Transition governance via national plans and infrastructure conversion.
- Phasing out long-term fossil gas contracts beyond 2049.
The new framework introduces separate hydrogen network operators and defines regulated third-party access rules for hydrogen infrastructure. It also updates the role of gas distribution and transmission system operators to accommodate blended and decarbonised gases. Hydrogen quality standards, injection rules, and interoperability conditions are set to be developed further through delegated acts.
Delegated Acts and Implementation measures
The package will be supported by secondary legislation defining:
- Hydrogen quality standards and cross-border interoperability rules
- Rules on ENNOH governance and planning procedures
- Network tariff methodologies for hydrogen
- Guarantees of origin and GHG footprint methodologies for gases
These measures are expected to be developed by the European Commission, ACER, and ENTSOG/ENNOH on the following years.