First draft of the Gas and Hydrogen NDP 2025: Integrated planning points the path towards climate neutrality

• Joint planning for hydrogen and methane
• Alignment with the Electricity Network Development Plan
• Scenario-based modelling for the target years 2037 and 2045
• Following a review, the hydrogen core network will remain largely unchanged; several measures will be phased in over time

Berlin, March 03, 2026 – The Coordination Office for Integrated Network Development Planning Gas and Hydrogen (KO.NEP) is today presenting the first draft of the Network Development Plan (NEP) Gas and Hydrogen 2025 for consultation. The planning of the methane and hydrogen infrastructures was carried out in an integrated process, as provided for in the amended Energy Industry Act (EnWG) of 2024.

The network development plan is based on the scenario framework approved by the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) on 30 April 2025, which sets out three scenarios each for methane and hydrogen for the years 2037 and 2045, as well as an additional supply security scenario for methane for 2030 that takes account of the short-term supply situation. The proposed grid expansion comprises measures up to 2037 involving 364 km of pipeline and total investment of €2.9 billion in methane, as well as 7,007 km and around €20.1 billion in hydrogen. For the transport of hydrogen, the network development plan also includes a further 2,199 km and €4.1 billion. This excludes €4.1 billion of the originally approved core hydrogen network that has already been implemented or is currently being implemented and is therefore no longer part of the network expansion proposal. Consequently, following review, the core hydrogen network remains virtually unchanged in scope.

Barbara Fischer, Managing Director of FNB Gas: “Considering gas and hydrogen as energy sources in tandem is crucial for the transition to climate neutrality. With the integrated network development plan, network operators not only meet legal requirements but also lay a solid foundation for a climate-friendly, secure and resilient energy supply. .”

Review of the core hydrogen network

A particular challenge for transmission system operators (TSOs) and hydrogen transmission system operators (HTSOs) was the review of the hydrogen core network approved in October 2024. This review is caught between the political objective of creating a sustainable basis for future market development and the continuing uncertainties regarding the actual development of gas and hydrogen demand. To address these outstanding issues – particularly with regard to the temporal and spatial ramp-up of the hydrogen market – the grid expansion proposal identifies measures common to all scenarios that are necessary from a grid engineering perspective. In this way, network operators make a tangible contribution to achieving energy and climate policy objectives by facilitating the development of infrastructure in line with market conditions to support the transition to a climate-neutral energy system.

“The transmission and hydrogen network operators have made use of the legal and regulatory options available to extend the timeframe and make technical adjustments to core network measures. The proposed expansion of the hydrogen network is broadly in line with the scope of the core network approved in 2024. The development of the Germany-wide hydrogen infrastructure has been optimised for cost-efficiency and adapted accordingly. Forward-looking network planning thus continues t provide an important and transparent basis for the development of the hydrogen market,” Fischer emphasises.

There are a variety of reasons for extending the timeframe. The main reason is the modelling results for the 2037 hydrogen scenarios. Furthermore, the network operators involved now have more detailed information and feasibility studies for the core hydrogen network, which provide a clearer picture of the technical implementation. The actual market ramp-up and delays in planning and approval processes also influence the revised planning.

500 km of the core hydrogen network has already been completed

By the end of 2025, more than 500 kilometres of the approved hydrogen backbone network will have been completed. Further measures are currently being implemented.

‘We are not just planning the roll-out of hydrogen; we are driving it forward. There is no alternative to using hydrogen to decarbonise industry and achieve our climate targets. Forward-looking infrastructure planning is key to the success of this market roll-out, which is still in its infancy,’ Fischer continued.

At the same time, grid operators are watching the market ramp-up with growing concern. The sluggish ramp-up significantly increases the risk exposure of core grid operators with regard to the payback of the grid. We therefore call on policymakers to introduce supporting measures to facilitate the ramp-up. Despite the sluggish market ramp-up, the ‘concept’ for solving the chicken-and-egg problem remains sound. Adjustments are being made via the rolling NEP process. ‘To achieve this, the FNBs need a certain degree of flexibility in implementation in order to align the pace of delivery with the pace of transformation,’ adds Dr Matthias Jenn, the new CEO of FNB Gas.

A two-stage approach and an updated database

The scope of the integrated analysis of gas and hydrogen, involving three scenarios to be modelled plus a supply security variant, has resulted in a significantly greater need for analysis than previously. The gas and hydrogen TSOs are therefore publishing the 2025 National Energy Policy for Gas and Hydrogen in two stages.

The draft published today marks the first step. In a second step, a revised draft will be published, taking into account the results of the consultation. This revised draft will also include the modelling results for hydrogen for the base year 2045, as well as the modelling of market-based instruments (MBIs). The network operators are expected to submit this revised draft to the BNetzA for approval in mid-2026.

The consultation on the 2025 Gas and Hydrogen Network Development Plan will take place from 3 March 2026 to 27 March 2026. During this period, all interested parties will have the opportunity to submit written comments on the NEP.

The gas and hydrogen TSOs invite you to take part in the consultation and look forward to public participation. A public workshop to present the key findings of the first draft of the 2025 National Energy Policy for Gas and Hydrogen will take place on 11 March 2026 from 9.00 am to 12.30 pm. You can register at https://eventmobi.com/website/konep-konsultations-workshop.

In addition, the NEP Gas database has been comprehensively updated and is available at www.nep-gas-datenbank.de, providing information on modelling inputs, capacities, expansion measures and further details regarding methane and hydrogen. In doing so, the network operators are establishing a transparent data foundation to serve as the basis for further technical dialogue.