Section 1 General rules for the organisation of the markets and infrastructure access

Article 4

The Commission shall support and encourage the penetration of renewable gas and low-carbon gas, in particular hydrogen and biomethane, into the Union energy system, in particular in coal and carbon-intensive regions, with the aim of increasing the share of renewable gas in particular in industrial processes, district heating and energy storage and thereby accelerate the phase out of solid fossil fuels in industrial and district heating sectors. The Commission shall also support the conversion of fossil fuels to renewable and low-carbon hydrogen and biomethane, as well as the creation of a hydrogen-ready workforce.

Article 9

LNG system operators and natural gas storage system operators shall, at least every two years, assess market demand for new investments allowing the use of renewable gas and low-carbon gas, including hydrogen compounds, such as liquid ammonia and liquid organic hydrogen carriers, in the facilities. Those operators shall inform relevant regulatory authorities on the outcome of the market demand assessment. When planning new investments, LNG system operators and natural gas storage system operators shall assess market demand in view of facilitating the usage of renewable gas and low-carbon gas in their facilities and take into account security of supply. LNG system operators and natural gas storage system operators shall make publicly available any plans regarding new investments allowing the usage of renewable gas and low-carbon gas in their facilities.

Article 12

Each transmission system operator, natural gas storage system operator, LNG system operator, hydrogen transmission network operator, hydrogen terminal operator and hydrogen storage operator shall take reasonable steps to allow capacity rights to be freely tradable and to facilitate such trade in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner. Every such operator shall develop harmonised contracts and procedures for transport, LNG facilities, hydrogen terminals, natural gas storage facilities and hydrogen storage facilities on the primary market to facilitate secondary trade of capacity and shall recognise the transfer of primary capacity rights where notified by system users.

The harmonised contracts and procedures shall be notified to the regulatory authorities.