Gas infrastructure operators fit for 55

July 14, 2021

GIE applauds the adoption of the awaited ‘Fit for 55’ package. Establishing the target of 55% GHG reduction by 2030 is a milestone of the energy transition, which aims to drastically accelerate the decarbonisation process. Such a move intends to set the EU on track towards a climate-neutral and technical leadership. To deliver these ambitious objectives in an efficient and inclusive way, fostering collaboration between regions, sectors, energy carriers and infrastructures is crucial. To do so, we must establish a proper policy framework while applying a neutral technological approach.

Designing the policy framework will be challenging for policymakers. This pivotal step will enable this set of guidelines to become concrete. While doing so, it will be primordial to keep in mind the significant contribution of the gas infrastructure in making climate-neutral neutrality a reality. In a nutshell, gas infrastructure operators are already playing and will keep playing a central role in the regional approach, guaranteeing the security of supply and ensuring affordable energy for all citizens and industries. They are furthermore an ally in the development of renewable and low-carbon technologies.

“Today, our industry stands ready to best support society through this exciting journey. By combining the right incentives with our extensive infrastructure and capacity to innovate, gas infrastructure can unleash its decarbonisation potential and become the backbone of tomorrow’s energy system. The switch from coal-to-gas-to-hydrogen is a strong lever for decarbonisation. It will enable to drastically reduce CO₂ emissions by 2030. Gas infrastructure operators believe that a more integrated and digital energy system is around the corner. And we look forward to integrating more and more low-carbon and renewable molecules into our existing facilities. In fact, we take action today: we raise awareness and develop innovative technologies supporting EU institutions in delivering the EU Green Deal.”  Torben Brabo, GIE President 

“It’s good to see the European Commission developing such an ambitious and exhaustive project. Our 70 members come from 26 European countries and this diversity provides us with a clear overview: all the regions face different challenges and opportunities. But they share the same devotion to make climate neutrality a reality. If we want fast and fair decarbonisation, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all solution but multiple pathways with multiple technologies. Transmission pipelines, underground storages and LNG terminals are part of them. With the right policy framework, we can unveil the full decarbonisation potential of our extensive infrastructure.”
Boyana Achovski, GIE Secretary General

GIE considers the role of the EU regions to be pivotal in making the energy transition happen. To achieve a common objective, multiple solutions for the region- and country-specific situations must be taken into consideration. In a transitional period, natural gas will play an essential role in some European regions in substituting coal in power generation and providing flexibility in electricity systems. In addition, gas assets will gradually accommodate a growing share of renewable and low-carbon gases. Their already solid and well-developed infrastructure will play a key role in establishing a fully decarbonised energy system across Europe. Earlier this year, GIE published an in-depth analysis of the part of the existing gas infrastructure in supporting Central-Eastern- and South-Eastern- Europe in their energy transition.

The gas infrastructure has a tremendous role to play in supporting the blooming of hydrogen economies across Europe. The gradual development of the hydrogen market and demand will lead to an increasing need to transport, store, import and export large volumes of hydrogen in its various forms. Different pathways will thereby emerge depending on the regions. Besides newly built H2 infrastructures, retrofitting and repurposing the pipelines, storage facilities, and LNG terminals will enable the existing gas infrastructures to accommodate hydrogen. This process will allow society to save high costs- and time. It will also stimulate the social acceptance of the energy transition by minimising the construction of new energy infrastructures.

GIE calls on EU policymakers to ensure that the new framework:

• Facilitates sector coupling by integrating different gases that can balance the whole energy system.
• Acknowledges the role of gas infrastructure operators to integrate renewable and low-carbon gases into their systems.
• Provides an appropriate framework for the integration of hydrogen.
• Facilitates the import of different forms of hydrogen.
• Acknowledges the role of natural gas and its infrastructure in exam transitional role for decarbonisation in some European regions.
• Creates a viable documentation scheme, based on Guarantees of Origin, to prove the green value of renewable and low-carbon gases.

Discover more:

• Regulation of Hydrogen Infrastructure – GIE Position Paper
• Press release: GIE response to the Public Consultation of the EU Commission on the Gas/Hydrogen Package
• Report on Picturing the value of underground gas storage to the European hydrogen system
• Frontier Economics study for GLE ‘The role of LNG in the energy sector transition – regulatory recommendations
• Study on the Import of Liquid Renewable Energy: Technology Cost Assessment
• Frontier Economics study for GSE ‘Elaborating concrete European legislative proposals on gas storage’

Note to editors

Who is GIE?

Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) is the association representing the interests of European gas infrastructure operators active in gas transmission, gas storage and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) regasification. GIE is a trusted partner of European institutions, regulatory bodies and industry stakeholders. It is based in Brussels, the heart of European policymaking. GIE currently represents 70 member companies from 26 countries. GIE’s vision is that by 2050, the gas infrastructure will be the backbone of the new innovative energy system, allowing European citizens to benefit from a secure, efficient and sustainable energy supply.