In the short term (2020–2030), we need to build the ‚no-regrets‘ European hydrogen backbone, connecting clusters of demand, to keep hydrogen supplies competitive and secure. The EU already has a well-established and trusted planning process for network development, based on the TYNDP (Ten-Year Network Development Plan) process, which should be used for the future development of the grid(s). The natural gas, hydrogen and blended networks will be inherently interlinked and have to be planned as a single connected system. Planning the first stage of the backbone needs to start immediately, as geography of the first IPCEI projects and hydrogen-based EU recovery will expand. TYNDP 2022 could identify the initial ‚no-regrets‘ backbone of retrofitted or repurposed gas infrastructure and prepare for its gradual expansion and based on an updated CBA methodology. The TEN-E revision should account of the new hydrogen market and deliver this first stage ‚no regrets‘ backbone.

TYNDPs should remain the basic network planning tool for all three future (gradually merging) pathways; inventing an entirely new one will be time-consuming, unnecessary and risks creating inefficiencies.

The new market involves new players, whose opinions need to be effectively reflected in the planning process. ENTSOG proposes to ensure full and inclusive involvement of all relevant market participants in:

• identifying and developing strategies and needs relating to future gas grids,
• the detailed grid planning process through the TYNDP process, and
• analysing technical grid issues on gas quality and hydrogen handling.

Please find further information under ENTSOG 2050 Roadmap ACTION PLAN