March 22, 2026. The German Federal Government approved the draft law transposing the European package for the internal gas and hydrogen market into national law, thus establishing key guidelines for the future development of infrastructure and markets. Dr. Timm Kehler, Director General of the German Gas and Hydrogen Industry Association, welcomed the Cabinet’s decision as the foundation for a reliable and secure transformation of both markets.
“The bill presents substantial improvements over the initial draft and constitutes a significant boost for the development of the gas and hydrogen markets. It is crucial that the transformation of gas networks be managed judiciously, not through indiscriminate dismantling, but through the intelligent development of existing infrastructure. This recognizes the high value of gas networks and, at the same time, paves the way for new energy vectors such as hydrogen and biomethane.
A particularly positive aspect is the absence of a legal obligation to dismantle gas networks. Instead, the bill offers the necessary flexibility for their reuse and adaptation as demand and applications change. The established deadlines provide legal certainty for suppliers and, above all, for consumers. Consumer protection is considered systematically: customers can only be disconnected from the network if reliable and affordable alternatives exist.
We also note significant progress regarding renewable gases. The connection privilege for biomethane sends a clear signal for market expansion. At the same time, the implementation of European regulations for the The internal market for renewable and decarbonized gases, which we have been promoting, is underway. The path has been cleared for the biogas market to boom. What is still lacking in Brussels is pressure from Germany to facilitate European trade.
However, key questions remain unanswered. The draft law focuses too heavily on regional biomethane. Existing and modernized plants already contribute significantly to security of supply and the resilience of the energy system. Therefore, they must continue to be reliably integrated into the market in the future and have clear and uniform transitional provisions. Otherwise, key commitments such as the green gas quota cannot be met.”
