Bun­desnet­za­gen­tur launch­es con­sul­ta­tion for Gas and Hy­dro­gen Net­work De­vel­op­ment Plan 2025-2037/2045

Year of issue 2026
Date of issue 2026.06.15

The Bundesnetzagentur has today launched the consultation on the second draft of the Gas and Hydrogen Network Development Plan (NDP) 2025-2037/2045 drawn up and revised by the gas transmission system operators (TSOs) and the regulated hydrogen transmission network operators.

“The delays to the hydrogen ramp-up are a challenge. Nevertheless, the expansion of a hydrogen transmission network is essential for a climate-neutral energy system,” said Klaus Müller. “We need adequate infrastructure to transport the necessary volumes of hydrogen and match supply and demand. Expansion of the hydrogen network therefore needs to be driven further forward to create the basis for a future hydrogen economy.”

Further development of the hydrogen core network

The gas TSOs and regulated hydrogen transmission network operators submitted the second draft of the Gas and Hydrogen NDP 2025-2037/2045 to the Bundesnetzagentur on 1 June 2026. It is based on the approved scenario framework, which contains a range of possible developments for the hydrogen ramp-up.

The expansion proposal submitted envisages a hydrogen network with a length of 9,241 km up to 2037, roughly the equivalent of the approved core network (9,040 km). The total costs for the proposed hydrogen network measures amount to €24.3bn.

Determination of the infrastructure requirements for natural gas

The measures set out in the expansion proposal of the network operators for the period up to 2037 are mostly measures that were already confirmed in the Gas NDP 2022-2032. As decarbonisation progresses, transport requirements for natural gas will decline in the long term. Pipelines no longer needed for natural gas can then be converted for hydrogen. However, short-term measures for the supply of natural gas to power plants and industry may be necessary in the course of the restructuring of the energy system.

The total costs of the proposed expansion measures for the natural gas network amount to €2.9bn. The total length of the pipelines is about 672 km.

Examination and consultation

The Bundesnetzagentur will examine the second draft prior to confirming the network development plan. Comments submitted in response to the consultation will be taken into account in this process. The draft has been published on the Bundesnetzagentur's website. Comments can be submitted at www.bundesnetzagentur.de/gasnetzentwicklung until 10 July 2026.

An online consultation event will be held during the consultation period on 25 June 2026. The second draft of the Gas and Hydrogen NDP 2025-2037/2045 will be presented there. Registrations for the event are now open (link to register).