Mission

GIE aims to find market-based solutions in order to best meet the interests of the network users; with regard to regulated activities of our members we advocate a stable and predictable regulatory framework consistent throughout the European Union in order to create an environment that facilitates investments. This is of particular importance since infrastructure is a prerequisite both for security of supply and for creating competition. Only if investments into infrastructure and the creation of new capacity are sufficient in order to cope with the rising demand for natural gas can natural gas remain a cornerstone of the European energy mix.

GIE is promoting interoperability of the European gas systems to enhance cross-border gas exchanges through the work done within GIE on this issue and in cooperation with other stakeholders.

Objectives

The GIE objectives comprise mainly but are not necessarily limited to those listed:

• Contributing to a safe and reliable European transmission system suitable for meeting present and future transportation needs;
• Supporting the European Union on its path to deliver the EU Green Deal’s objectives;
• Enhancing decarbonisation of all regions and sectors, including the hard-to-abate ones;
• Supporting the development of the hydrogen economy with the existing gas infrastructure and via the development of innovative projects;
• Promoting market solutions;
• Contributing to the setting of a stable public policy framework;
• Voicing the opinion of the its members in Europe according to the previous points.

CH4 Area

[focus on existing markets]

The management of the classical natural gas market we see to be developed under the CH₄ Area. The existing market and its regulatory design are very mature and requires its own focus. Markets in some regions should be finalised, and the CCE/SEE prospects should have more focus

Topics followed:

• Clean Energy Package Implementation
• Mirroring Clean Energy Package (incl. RED II, Electricity Directive, 3rd Energy Package)
• Market integration and update of the Gas Directive on existing market (methane gas)
• Biogas/biomethane
• Future of “heat”
• Decarbonisation of the CEE/SEE Region and the switch from coal to gas

Relation with ACER/CEER and policymakers (ad-hoc) on natural gas

New Gases Area

[focus on new markets]

We introduce a new area, the New Gases Area, where the role of new gases on a wholesale level will be tackled more in depth. Such change is born from the EC decarbonization process, the EC System Integration and Hydrogen strategies.

Topics followed:

• EC strategies/policy analysis related Hydrogen and Energy System Integration Strategies
• Hydrogen regulatory framework for gas infrastructure (transmission, storage and regasification)
• Clean H2 and regulatory framework to accelerate H2 market (except infrastructures)
• Offshore wind strategy
• Targets for renewable and low-carbon gases
• GO Prime Movers Group (jointly with ENTSOG) and MRR (EU ETS)
• Clean Hydrogen Alliance and relation with Hydrogen Europe
• Hydrogen specific topics of the mirroring of the Clean Energy Package (incl. REDII, Electricity Directive)
• Market integration and update of the Gas Directive on existing market (hydrogen specific topics)

Disruptive Energy Area

[focus on disruptive markets]

We introduce a new area, the Disruptive Energy Area, where the more disruptive, decentralised and circular technologies and markets should be assessed.

Topics followed:

• New disruptive business models connected with decentralisation
• Energy storage
• Sector coupling and joint gas-power markets design (prosumers, flexibility platforms, ..)
• Dialogue and work with DSO’s (gas and power)
• GIE Innovates (disruptive technology development, mainly cluster)
• Digitalisation

System Operation & Development Area

The technical work addressed so far under the System Operation Area, together with the GIE Maps and Transparency will be covered under the existing System Operation and Development Area.

Topics followed:

• Methane Emissions
• Security of Supply
• Gas Quality
• Cybersecurity
• Transparency (including GIE/GTE/GLE/GSE Maps, ALSI/AGSI+, REMIT)
• H2 Infrastructure Maps TYNDP, databases (data for EHB, IOGP/GIE/ENTSOG, NGN H2 Map)
• TYNDP