Regulation (EU) 2024/1789 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on the internal markets for renewable gas, natural gas and hydrogen, amending Regulations (EU) No 1227/2011, (EU) 2017/1938, (EU) 2019/942 and (EU) 2022/869 and Decision (EU) 2017/684 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 (recast) (Text with EEA relevance)

While preparing the network codes, the draft Union-wide network development plan for natural gas and the annual work programme referred to in Article 26(1), (2) and (3), the ENTSO for Gas shall conduct an extensive public consultation process, at an early stage and in an open and transparent manner, involving all relevant market participants, and, in particular, the organisations representing all stakeholders, in accordance with the rules of procedure referred to in Article 25(1). That consultation shall also involve regulatory authorities and other national authorities, supply and production undertakings, network users including customers, distribution system operators, including relevant industry associations, technical bodies and stakeholder platforms. The ENTSO for Gas shall publish drafts of the network codes, the Union-wide network development plan for natural gas and the annual work programme for comments by the stakeholders and provide sufficient time for them to participate in the consultation process effectively. The aim of that consultation is to identify the views and proposals of the relevant stakeholders during the decision-making process.

All documents and minutes of meetings related to the consultations referred to in paragraph 1 shall be made public.

Before adopting the annual work programme and the network codes referred to in Article 26(1), (2) and (3), the ENTSO for Gas shall indicate how the observations received during the consultation have been taken into consideration. It shall provide reasons where observations have not been taken into account.

Transmission system operators shall establish regional cooperation within the ENTSO for Gas to contribute to the tasks referred to in Article 26(1), (2) and (3).

Transmission system operators shall promote operational arrangements in order to ensure the optimum management of the network and shall promote the development of energy exchanges, the coordinated allocation of cross-border capacity through non-discriminatory market-based solutions, paying due attention to the specific merits of implicit auctions for short-term allocations and the integration of balancing mechanisms.

For the purposes of achieving the objectives set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, the Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 80 to supplement this Regulation by establishing the definition of the geographical area covered by each regional cooperation structure, taking into account existing regional cooperation structures. Each Member State shall be allowed to promote cooperation in more than one geographical area.

The transmission system operator shall make public detailed information regarding the capacity and services it offers and the relevant conditions applied, together with the technical information necessary for network users to obtain effective network access.

In order to ensure transparent, objective and non-discriminatory tariffs and facilitate efficient utilisation of the natural gas network, transmission system operators or relevant regulatory authorities shall publish reasonably and sufficiently detailed information on tariff derivation, methodology and structure.

For the services provided, each transmission system operator shall make public information on technical, contracted and available capacities on a numerical basis for all relevant points including entry and exit points on a regular and rolling basis and in a user-friendly and standardised manner in accordance with the guidelines laid down in Annex I.

The relevant points of a transmission system on which the information is to be made public shall be approved by the competent authorities after consultation with network users.

The transmission system operator shall always disclose the information required by this Regulation in a meaningful, quantifiably clear, easily accessible and non-discriminatory manner.

The transmission system operator shall make public ex ante and ex post supply and demand information, on the basis of nominations and allocations, forecasts and realised flows in and out of the system. The regulatory authority shall ensure that all such information is made public. The level of detail of the information that is made public shall reflect the information available to the transmission system operator.

The transmission system operators shall make public detailed information regarding the quality of natural gas transported in their networks, which might affect network users, pursuant to Articles 16 and 17 of Regulation (EU) 2015/703.

LNG system operators, natural gas storage system operators, hydrogen terminal operators and hydrogen storage operators shall make public detailed information regarding all services they offer and the relevant conditions applied, together with the technical information necessary for users of LNG facility, natural gas storage facility, hydrogen storage facility and hydrogen terminal to obtain effective access to the LNG facilities, natural gas storage facilities, hydrogen storage facilities and hydrogen terminals. Regulatory authorities may request those operators to make public any additional relevant information for system users.

LNG system operators shall provide user-friendly instruments for calculating tariffs for the services available.

For the services provided, LNG system operators, natural gas storage system operators, hydrogen terminal operators and hydrogen storage operators shall make public information on contracted and available LNG facility, natural gas storage facility, hydrogen storage facility and hydrogen terminal capacities on a numerical basis on a regular and rolling basis and in a user-friendly standardised manner.

LNG system operators, natural gas storage system operators, hydrogen terminal operators and hydrogen storage operators shall disclose the information required by this Regulation in a meaningful, quantifiably clear, easily accessible and non-discriminatory manner.

LNG system operators, natural gas storage system operators, hydrogen terminal operators and hydrogen storage operators shall make public the amount of natural gas or hydrogen in each LNG facility, natural gas storage facility, hydrogen storage facility and hydrogen terminal, or group of storage facilities if that corresponds to the way in which the access is offered to system users, inflows and outflows, and the available LNG facility, natural gas storage facility, hydrogen storage facility and hydrogen terminal capacities, including for those facilities exempted from third-party access. That information shall also be communicated to the transmission system operator or to the hydrogen network operator for hydrogen storage and terminals, which shall make it public on an aggregated level per system or subsystem defined by the relevant points. The information shall be updated at least daily.

In order to ensure transparent, objective and non-discriminatory tariffs and facilitate efficient utilisation of the infrastructures, the LNG system operators, natural gas storage system operators, hydrogen terminal operators and hydrogen storage operators or relevant regulatory authorities shall make public sufficiently detailed information on tariff derivation, the methodologies and the structure of tariffs for infrastructure under regulated third-party access. LNG facilities that have been granted an exemption, pursuant to Article 78 of this Regulation, Article 22 of Directive 2003/55/EC and Article 36 of Directive 2009/73/EC, and natural gas storage system operators under the negotiated third-party access regime shall make public tariffs for infrastructure in order to ensure a sufficient degree of transparency.

Distribution system operators shall ensure firm capacity for the access of the production facilities of renewable gas and low-carbon gas connected to their grid. To that end, distribution system operators shall in cooperation among themselves and with the transmission system operators, develop procedures and arrangements, including investments, to ensure reverse flow from the distribution network to the transmission network. Major investments in the natural gas transmission network resulting from the need for additional capacities in the distribution network shall be reflected in the ten-year network development plan in accordance with Article 55(2), point (a), of Directive (EU) 2024/1788.

Paragraph 1 shall be without prejudice to the possibility for distribution system operators to develop alternatives to reverse-flow investments, such as smart grid solutions or connection to other network operators. Firm capacity access may be limited to offering capacities subject to operational limitations, in order to ensure infrastructure safety and economic efficiency. The regulatory authority shall ensure that any limitations in firm capacity or operational limitations are introduced by distribution system operators on the basis of transparent and non-discriminatory procedures and do not create undue barriers to market entry. Where the production facility bears the costs related to ensuring firm capacity, no limitation shall apply.

The principal rules and procedures for the EU DSO entity pursuant to Article 54 of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 shall also apply to distribution system operators operating a natural gas system and hydrogen distribution network operators.

The Strategic Advisory Group referred to in Article 54(2), point (f), of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 shall also consist of representatives of associations representing European distribution system operators operating a natural gas system or European hydrogen distribution network operators.

By 5 August 2025, the EU DSO entity shall submit to the Commission and to ACER draft updated statutes, including a code of conduct, a list of registered members, draft updated rules of procedure, including rules of procedure on the consultation with the ENTSO for Electricity, the ENTSO for Gas and other stakeholders, and draft updated financing rules.

Within four months of receipt of the documents submitted pursuant to paragraph 3, ACER shall provide the Commission with its opinion, after consulting organisations representing all stakeholders, in particular distribution system users, including customers.

Within three months of receipt of ACER’s opinion, the Commission shall issue an opinion on the documents submitted pursuant to paragraph 3, taking into account ACER’s opinion referred to in paragraph 4.

Within three months of receipt of the Commission’s positive opinion, the distribution system operators shall adopt and publish the EU DSO’s updated statutes, rules of procedure and financing rules.

The documents referred to in paragraph 3 shall be submitted to the Commission and to ACER where there are changes thereto or upon the reasoned request of either of them. The Commission and ACER may issue an opinion in accordance with the process laid down in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5.

The EU DSO entity shall exercise the tasks listed in Article 55(1), points (a) to (e), of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 and undertake the activities listed in Article 55(2), points (c), (d) and (e), of that Regulation also as regards distribution systems for natural gas or hydrogen distribution networks.

In addition to the tasks listed in Article 55(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943, the EU DSO entity shall participate in the development of network codes which are relevant to the operation and planning of distribution grids and the coordinated operation of the transmission networks and distribution networks pursuant to this Regulation and contribute to mitigating fugitive methane emissions from the natural gas system.

In addition to the activities listed in Article 55(2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943, the EU DSO entity shall:

The EU DSO entity shall provide input to the ENTSO for Gas for its reporting on gas quality, with regard to the distribution systems where distribution system operators are responsible for gas quality management, as referred to in Article 26(3).

The EU DSO entity shall provide input to the ENNOH for the hydrogen quality monitoring report to be adopted pursuant to Article 59(1), point (j), of this Regulation with regard to the hydrogen distribution networks where hydrogen distribution network operators are responsible for hydrogen quality management pursuant to Article 50 of Directive (EU) 2024/1788.

By way of derogation from Article 176 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046, the Commission may contract the necessary services of an entity or entities established in the Union through the relevant procurement procedures under Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046, in order to implement the objective laid down in Article 42 of this Regulation.

Where the Commission selects a service provider, it shall do so on the basis of criteria that safeguard the integrity of the internal market, that ensure competition and security of supply, and that comply with Article 44. The Commission shall specify the requirements applicable to the service provider in the relevant tender specifications.

The service provider shall be selected by the Commission among entities complying with the following eligibility criteria:

Without prejudice to other due diligence obligations, contractual obligations between the Commission and the service providers shall be put in place to ensure that the service provider when carrying out its tasks under Article 45 does not make any funds or economic resources available, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies:

The service provider shall not be part of a vertically integrated undertaking, except for an entity unbundled in accordance with Chapter IX of Directive (EU) 2024/1788.

The service provider shall organise the tasks of demand aggregation and the joint purchasing of natural gas. In particular, but not exclusively, the service provider may implement the following elements:

Participation in the mechanism for demand aggregation and the joint purchasing of natural gas shall be open to natural gas undertakings and undertakings consuming natural gas established in the Union on a non-discriminatory basis. Such undertakings shall be precluded from participating as suppliers, producers and purchasers, if they are:

Contractual obligations shall be put in place to ensure that no funds or economic resources are made available, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies, which are:

Natural gas undertakings and undertakings consuming natural gas established in the Energy Community Contracting Parties may participate in the mechanism for demand aggregation and the joint purchasing of natural gas provided that the necessary measures or arrangements are in place to allow their participation in the mechanism for demand aggregation and the joint purchasing of natural gas pursuant to this Section.

Natural gas undertakings and undertakings consuming natural gas participating in demand aggregation may, on a transparent basis, coordinate elements of the conditions of the purchase contract or use joint purchase contracts in order to achieve better conditions with their suppliers, provided that they comply with Union law, including Union competition law, in particular Articles 101 and 102 TFEU.

Participants in the mechanism for demand aggregation and the joint purchasing of natural gas shall report to the Commission or the relevant service provider, as appropriate, the following elements of the concluded contracts:

Participants in the mechanism for demand aggregation and the joint purchasing of natural gas may report to the Commission or the relevant service provider, as appropriate, if matching and tendering did not result in the conclusion of a supply contract.

The recipient of the information reported under paragraphs 5 and 6 shall ensure that access to confidential information is strictly limited to the service provider and to Commission services for whom it is absolutely necessary to have the information available. Such information shall be handled with due confidentiality.

In order to protect the essential security interests of the Union and of its Member States, and in the interest of safeguarding security of supply, natural gas supplies originating in, and LNG supplies from LNG facilities located in, the Russian Federation or Belarus shall not be offered through the mechanism for demand aggregation and the joint purchasing of natural gas until 31 December 2025.

The exclusion referred to in paragraph 1 shall apply to all LNG supplies originating in any LNG facility located in the Russian Federation or Belarus and natural gas supplies entering the Member States or Energy Community Contracting Parties through the following entry points:

From 1 January 2026, the Commission may decide, by means of an implementing act, to temporarily exclude natural gas originating in, or LNG supplies from LNG facilities located in, the Russian Federation or Belarus from the participation in the mechanism for demand aggregation and the joint purchasing of natural gas, where that is necessary to protect the essential security interests or the security of supply of the Union or of a Member State, provided that such measures:

Sufficiently in advance of the first tendering round in 2026, the Commission shall assess whether all the conditions laid down in paragraph 1 are met with the view to deciding on any measures referred to therein. Any such decision shall be valid for a period of up to one year and may be renewed if justified.

Taking into account the need to ensure the security of supply of the Union, the measures taken by the Commission pursuant to paragraph 1 may be aimed at diversifying natural gas or LNG supplies with a view to reducing dependence on Russian natural gas, where it can be demonstrated that such measures are necessary to protect the essential security interests of the Union and of the Member States.

Decisions referred to in paragraph 1 shall contain a list of:

The Commission shall take appropriate measures to ensure the effective application of this Article and of Article 47 and may require from natural gas suppliers or producers participating in the mechanism for demand aggregation and the joint purchasing of natural gas all the necessary information to assist it in that task, including the submission to the purchasers of the relevant shipping documents when delivering the natural gas supplies, where technically feasible.

In order to facilitate coordination and information exchange in relation to the mechanism for demand aggregation and the joint purchasing of natural gas, the Commission shall be assisted by a Steering Board.

The Steering Board shall be composed of representatives of Member States and one representative of the Commission. The participation of Member States shall be voluntary and depends in particular upon the agenda of the Steering Board’s meetings. The representatives of the Energy Community Contracting Parties may participate in the Steering Board upon invitation of the Commission on all matters of mutual concern. The Commission shall chair the Steering Board.

The Commission may establish a mechanism to support the market development of hydrogen including the elements specified in paragraph 2 to be implemented under the activities of the European Hydrogen Bank. That voluntary mechanism may be in place until 31 December 2029.

The Commission may contract the relevant service provider, applying by analogy the procedure set out in Articles 43 and 44, for the implementation, in particular, but not exclusively, of the following elements:

In order to contribute to the decarbonisation objectives laid down in this Regulation, Member States may ensure liquidity support, including guarantees, for hydrogen under the activities of the European Hydrogen Bank and in accordance with State aid rules where applicable.

Coordination and information exchange in relation to the mechanism referred to in paragraph 1 may be facilitated by the relevant coordination group separate from expert groups dedicated to natural gas.

Prior to the expiry of the mechanism referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council assessing the performance of that mechanism. In particular, the Commission shall assess the contribution of that mechanism to the development of the hydrogen market in the Union.

Participation in the mechanism to support the market development of hydrogen shall be open to hydrogen undertakings and undertakings consuming hydrogen established in the Union on a non-discriminatory basis. Such undertakings shall be precluded from participating as suppliers and off-takers if they are:

Contractual obligations shall be put in place to ensure that no funds or economic resources are made available, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies which are:

Hydrogen undertakings and undertakings consuming hydrogen established in the Energy Community Contracting Parties may participate in the mechanism to support the market development of hydrogen provided that the necessary measures or arrangements are in place to allow their participation in the mechanism to support the market development of hydrogen pursuant to this Article and to Articles 52 and 54.

The Commission may decide, by means of an implementing act, to temporarily exclude offers of hydrogen supplies originating in the Russian Federation or Belarus from being collected through the mechanism to support the market development of hydrogen, where necessary to protect the essential security interests or the security of supply of the Union or of a Member State, provided that such measures:

Sufficiently in advance of the first collection of offers, the Commission shall assess whether all the conditions laid down in paragraph 1 are met with the view to deciding on any measures referred to therein. Any such decision shall be valid for a period of up to one year and may be renewed if justified.

The Commission shall take appropriate measures to ensure the effective application of this Article.

Hydrogen transmission network operators shall cooperate to avoid restrictions to cross-border flows of hydrogen due to hydrogen quality differences in order to meet the quality requirements of different end-use applications in line with the applicable hydrogen quality standards.

Where a restriction to cross-border flows due to hydrogen quality differences cannot be avoided by the hydrogen transmission network operators concerned in their standard operations, they shall inform the regulatory authorities concerned without delay. The information shall include a description and the reasons justifying any measures already taken by the hydrogen transmission network operators.

The regulatory authorities concerned shall jointly agree, within six months of receipt of the information referred to in paragraph 2, whether to recognise the restriction.

Where the regulatory authorities concerned recognise the restriction pursuant to paragraph 3, they shall request the hydrogen transmission network operators concerned to perform, within 12 months of the recognition of the restriction as referred to in that paragraph, the following actions in sequence:

Where the hydrogen transmission network operators concerned do not reach an agreement to submit a joint proposal pursuant to paragraph 4, point (e), each hydrogen transmission network operator shall inform its regulatory authority without delay.

The regulatory authorities concerned shall take a joint coordinated decision to remove the recognised restriction, taking into account the cost-benefit analysis carried out by the hydrogen transmission network operators concerned and the results of the public consultation conducted pursuant to paragraph 4, point (d), of this Article within six months of receipt of the information referred to in paragraph 5 of this Article, in accordance with Article 6(10) of Regulation (EU) 2019/942.

The joint coordinated decision of the regulatory authorities concerned referred to in paragraph 6 shall include a decision on the allocation of the investment costs to be borne by each hydrogen transmission network operator for implementing the agreed solution, as well as their inclusion in tariffs after 1 January 2033, taking into account the economic, social and environmental costs and benefits of the solution in the Member States concerned.

ACER may issue recommendations to the regulatory authorities on the details of such cost allocation decisions as referred to in paragraph 7.

Where the regulatory authorities concerned cannot reach an agreement as referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article, ACER shall decide on the restriction, in accordance with Article 6(10) of Regulation (EU) 2019/942. Where ACER recognises the restriction, it shall request the hydrogen transmission network operators concerned to perform, within 12 months, the actions referred to in paragraph 4 of this Article in sequence.

Where the regulatory authorities concerned cannot take a joint coordinated decision as referred to in paragraphs 6 and 7 of this Article, ACER shall decide on the solution to remove the recognised restriction and on the allocation of the investment costs to be borne by each hydrogen transmission network operator for implementing the agreed solution, in accordance with Article 6(10) of Regulation (EU) 2019/942.

Further details required to implement this Article, including details on a common binding hydrogen quality specification for cross-border hydrogen interconnectors, cost benefit analysis for removing cross-border flow restrictions due to hydrogen quality differences, interoperability rules for cross-border hydrogen infrastructure, including addressing interconnection agreements, units, data exchange, communication and information provision among relevant market participants, shall be laid down in a network code established pursuant to Article 72(1), point (b).

Hydrogen transmission network operators shall cooperate at Union level through the ENNOH, in order to promote the development and proper functioning of the internal market for hydrogen and cross-border trade and to ensure the optimal management, coordinated operation and sound technical evolution of the European hydrogen transmission network.

The ENNOH shall cooperate closely with the ENTSO for Electricity and the ENTSO for Gas on identifying synergies and on fostering system integration across energy carriers in order to facilitate overall energy system efficiency.

The ENNOH shall consist of hydrogen transmission network operators certified pursuant to Article 71 of Directive (EU) 2024/1788.

By way of derogation from paragraph 3 of this Article, a hydrogen transmission network operator that benefits from a derogation from Article 68 of Directive (EU) 2024/1788 shall be eligible to become a member of the ENNOH, provided that the operator is established in a Member State where no other hydrogen transmission network operator is a member of the ENNOH pursuant to paragraph 3 of this Article. Member States may nominate such a hydrogen transmission network operator and shall submit any such nomination to the ENNOH, the Commission and ACER. Member States may revoke such a nomination at any time. Where the hydrogen transmission network operator has not taken a final investment decision with regard to a hydrogen infrastructure project within four years of becoming a member of the ENNOH, that operator’s membership of the ENNOH shall expire.

Member States which have not designated a hydrogen transmission network operator, but which plan to develop a hydrogen transmission network in accordance with their integrated national energy and climate plans, may nominate an entity as associated partner within the ENNOH. The Member State concerned shall submit a nomination pursuant to this paragraph to the ENNOH, the Commission and ACER. The Member State concerned may revoke such a nomination at any time. That nomination shall expire when a hydrogen transmission network operator established in the Member State concerned becomes a member of the ENNOH.

When performing its functions under Union law, the ENNOH shall act with a view to establishing a properly functioning and integrated internal market for hydrogen and shall contribute to the efficient and sustainable achievement of the objectives laid down in the policy framework for climate and energy, in particular by contributing to the efficient integration of hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources and to increases in energy efficiency while maintaining hydrogen system security. The ENNOH shall have adequate human and financial resources to carry out its duties.

By 1 September 2024, the hydrogen transmission network operators shall submit to the Commission and to ACER the draft statutes, a list of members and draft rules of procedure, including the rules of procedure on the consultation of stakeholders, of the ENNOH to be established.

The hydrogen transmission network operators shall submit to the Commission and to ACER any draft amendments to the statutes, list of members or rules of procedure of the ENNOH.

Within four months of receipt of the drafts referred to in paragraph 7 and the draft amendments to the statutes, list of members or rules of procedure referred to in paragraph 8, ACER shall, after consulting the organisations representing all stakeholders, in particular the hydrogen system users, including customers, provide an opinion to the Commission on those drafts or draft amendments to the statutes, list of members or rules of procedure.

The Commission shall issue an opinion on the drafts and draft amendments to the statutes, list of members or rules of procedure, taking into account ACER’s opinion referred to in paragraph 9, within three months of the date of receipt of that opinion.

Within three months of receipt of the Commission’s favourable opinion, the hydrogen transmission network operators shall adopt and publish the statutes, list of members and rules of procedure of the ENNOH.

The documents referred to in paragraph 7 shall be submitted to the Commission and ACER where there are changes thereto or upon the reasoned request of the Commission or ACER. The Commission and ACER shall issue their opinions in accordance with paragraphs 9, 10 and 11.

The ENNOH shall have the following tasks:

The ENNOH shall monitor and analyse the implementation of the network codes and the guidelines adopted by the Commission in accordance with Articles 72, 73 and 74, and their effect on the harmonisation of applicable rules aimed at facilitating hydrogen market development and integration. The ENNOH shall report its findings to ACER and shall include the results of the analysis in the annual report referred to in paragraph 1, point (h), of this Article.

The ENNOH shall publish the minutes of its assembly meetings, board meetings and committee meetings and provide the public with regular information on its decision-making and activities.

The annual work programme referred to in paragraph 1, point (g), shall contain a list and description of the network codes to be prepared, a plan on the coordination of the operation of the hydrogen network, a list of research and development activities, to be realised in the course of that year, and an indicative calendar.

The ENNOH shall provide ACER with the information ACER requires to fulfil its tasks pursuant to Article 64. In order to enable the ENNOH to meet that requirement, hydrogen transmission network operators shall provide the ENNOH with the requested information.

Upon request of the Commission, the ENNOH shall give its views to the Commission on the adoption of the guidelines as laid down in Article 74.

The Union-wide network development plan for hydrogen shall include the modelling of the integrated hydrogen network, scenario development, a European supply adequacy outlook and an assessment of the resilience of the system.

ACER shall provide an opinion on the national hydrogen transmission network development plans where relevant to assess their consistency with the Union-wide network development plan for hydrogen. If ACER identifies inconsistencies between a national hydrogen transmission network development plan and the Union-wide network development plan for hydrogen, it shall recommend amending the national hydrogen transmission network development plan or the Union-wide network development plan for hydrogen as appropriate.

When developing the Union-wide network development plan for hydrogen, the ENNOH shall cooperate with the ENTSO for Electricity and with the ENTSO for Gas, in particular on the development of the energy system wide cost-benefit analysis and the interlinked energy market and network model including electricity, natural gas and hydrogen transport infrastructure as well as natural gas storage, hydrogen storage, LNG and hydrogen terminals and electrolysers referred to in Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2022/869, the scenarios for the ten-year network development plans referred to in Article 12 of that Regulation and the infrastructure gaps identification referred to in Article 13 of that Regulation.

During the transitional period until 1 January 2027, the ENTSO for Gas shall develop the 2026 Union-wide network development plan for hydrogen, with the full involvement of hydrogen transmission network operators and together with the ENNOH as soon as it is established. The 2026 Union-wide network development plan for hydrogen shall consist of two separate chapters, one for hydrogen and one for natural gas. The ENTSO for Gas shall without delay transfer to the ENNOH all the information, including data and analyses it collected during the preparation of the Union-wide network development plans for hydrogen by 1 January 2027.

The ENNOH shall develop the 2028 Union-wide network development plan for hydrogen pursuant to this Article and Article 60.

The ENNOH shall cooperate closely with the ENTSO for Electricity and the ENTSO for Gas to develop integrated Union-wide network development plans pursuant to Articles 32 and 60 of this Regulation and to Article 30 of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 respectively. That cooperation shall include in particular the following:

While preparing the proposals pursuant to the tasks referred to in Article 59, the ENNOH shall conduct an extensive public consultation process, at an early stage and in an open and transparent manner, involving all relevant market participants, and, in particular, the organisations representing all stakeholders, in accordance with the rules of procedure referred to in Article 57. The consultation process shall accommodate stakeholder comments before the final adoption of the proposal, with the aim of identifying the views and proposals of all relevant stakeholders during the decision-making process. That consultation shall also involve regulatory authorities and other national authorities, producers, network users including customers, technical bodies and stakeholder platforms.

All documents and minutes of meetings related to the consultations referred to in paragraph 1 shall be made public.

Before adopting the proposals referred to in Article 59, the ENNOH shall indicate how the observations received during the consultation have been taken into consideration. It shall provide reasons where observations have not been taken into account.

ACER shall monitor the execution of the tasks of the ENNOH referred to in Article 59 and report its findings to the Commission.

ACER shall monitor the implementation by the ENNOH of network codes and guidelines adopted by the Commission as laid down in Articles 72, 73 and 74. Where the ENNOH has failed to implement such network codes or guidelines, ACER shall request the ENNOH to provide a duly reasoned explanation as to why it has failed to do so. ACER shall inform the Commission of that explanation and provide its opinion thereon.

The ENNOH shall submit the draft Union-wide network development plan for hydrogen, the draft annual work programme, including the information regarding the consultation process, and the other documents referred to in Article 59 to ACER for its opinion.

Hydrogen transmission network operators shall establish regional cooperation within the ENNOH to contribute to the tasks referred to in Article 59.

Hydrogen transmission network operators shall promote operational arrangements in order to ensure the optimum management of the network and shall ensure interoperability of the interconnected Union hydrogen system for facilitating commercial and operational cooperation between adjacent hydrogen transmission network operators.

The hydrogen network operator shall make public detailed information regarding the services it offers and the relevant conditions applied, together with the technical information necessary for hydrogen network users to obtain effective network access.

In order to ensure transparent, objective and non-discriminatory tariffs and facilitate efficient utilisation of the hydrogen network, from 1 January 2031 hydrogen network operators or relevant regulatory authorities shall publish complete information on tariff derivation, methodology and structure.

The hydrogen network operators shall make public detailed information regarding the quality of hydrogen transported in their networks, which might affect network users.

The relevant points of a hydrogen network on which the information is to be made public shall be approved by the competent authorities after consultation with hydrogen network users.

The hydrogen network operators shall always disclose the information required by this Regulation in a meaningful, quantifiably clear, easily accessible and non-discriminatory manner.

The hydrogen network operators shall make public ex ante and ex post supply and demand information, including a periodic forecast and the recorded information. The regulatory authority shall ensure that all such information is made public. The level of detail of the information that is made public shall reflect the information available to the hydrogen network operator.

The market participants concerned shall provide the hydrogen network operator with the data referred to in this Article.

Further details required to implement the transparency requirements for hydrogen network operators, including further details on the content, frequency and form of information provision by hydrogen network operators, shall be laid down in a network code established in accordance with Article 72(2).

The Commission may lay down common specifications in a network code pursuant to Article 72(1), point (b), of this Regulation or may adopt implementing acts establishing common specifications for the requirements laid down in Article 50 of Directive (EU) 2024/1788, where:

In the early preparation of the draft implementing act establishing the common specifications referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission shall gather the views of relevant bodies or expert groups established under relevant sectorial Union law, and shall duly consult all relevant stakeholders. On the basis of that consultation, the Commission shall prepare the draft implementing act.

Practices which are in conformity with common specifications, or parts thereof, shall be presumed to be in conformity with the requirements laid down in the delegated acts adopted pursuant to Article 72(1), point (b), to the extent that those requirements are covered by such common specifications or parts thereof.

Where a harmonised standard is adopted by a European standardisation organisation and proposed to the Commission for the purpose of publishing its reference in the Official Journal of the European Union, the Commission shall assess the harmonised standard in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012. When the reference of a harmonised standard is published in the Official Journal of the European Union, the Commission shall repeal implementing acts referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, or parts thereof which cover the same requirements referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article.

The Commission may, subject to the empowerments laid down in Articles 71 to 74, adopt delegated or implementing acts. Such acts may either be adopted as network codes on the basis of text proposals developed by the ENTSO for Gas or the ENNOH, or, where so provided for in the priority list established pursuant to Article 71(3), by the EU DSO entity, where relevant in cooperation with the ENTSO for Gas, the ENNOH and ACER, pursuant to the procedure laid down in Articles 71, 72 and 73, or as guidelines pursuant to the procedure laid down in Article 74.

The network codes and guidelines shall:

Until 5 February 2026, regulatory authorities may submit a request to the Commission for a derogation from the application of the network codes and guidelines referred to in paragraph 1 at entry points from and exit points to third countries pursuant to paragraph 2, point (d). The request for a derogation shall be submitted simultaneously to the Commission and to ACER. Within three months of the date of receipt of the request for a derogation ACER shall provide a reasoned opinion to the Commission.

The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 80 to supplement this Regulation by establishing network codes in the following areas:

The Commission may adopt implementing acts establishing network codes in the following areas:

The Commission shall, after consulting ACER, the ENTSO for Gas, the ENNOH, the EU DSO entity and other relevant stakeholders, establish, every three years, a priority list, identifying the areas set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 to be included in the development of network codes.