EC Launches Consultation on Decarbonising the EU Gas Market

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EC Launches Consultation on Decarbonising the EU Gas Market

Date: March 30^th 2021

Author: Tanja Srnovršnik

Category: En.vision

Topic: Energy policy , CO2 emissions , Gases

The European Commission launched a public consultation on Friday on the revision of the EU gas directive and gas regulation in the context of the European Green Deal ambition to decarbonise the EU gas sector and, more broadly, achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

“All stakeholders are invited to share their views during the next 12 weeks, until 18 June, on how the existing EU gas legislation should be revised to support the uptake of renewable and low-carbon gases and hydrogen, while ensuring integrated, liquid and interoperable EU markets,” said the Commission.

According to the Commission, the issues raised in the consultation relate primarily to the cost-efficient decarbonisation of the existing gas sector.

“This includes questions on how to enable and foster a market for renewable and low-carbon hydrogen, allowing it to become a key component of the energy sector. It also addresses how to facilitate the injection, transmission, distribution and trading of renewable and low-carbon gases into the existing gas grid in the context of the wider energy system integration,” explained the Commission.

The feedback from the consultation will feed into the Commission’s preparations of legislative proposals for a new hydrogen and gas market decarbonisation package. The proposals should be presented before the end of 2021, said the Commission.

Ahead of this revision of the EU's gas legislation, the Commission plans to present the ‘Fit for 55' package this June to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and pave the way towards climate-neutrality goal by mid-century.

This package will also include the revised renewable energy and energy efficiency directives.

“Future gas market legislation will need to be consistent with measures under both directives, as well as other measures under the ‘Fit for 55’ package. It will also build on elements outlined in other European Green Deal initiatives such as the hydrogen strategy and the energy system integration strategy,” stressed the Commission.

This article is available also in Slovene.