WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?
Regulation (EU) 2024/1789 is part of a package designed to push the European Union (EU) towards decarbonising its energy systems by integrating renewable and low-carbon gases, particularly hydrogen, focusing on:
- fair rules for accessing natural gas transmission networks, storage facilities and liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure;
- mechanisms to aggregate demand and joint purchasing of natural gas; and
- supporting the development of hydrogen markets.
By promoting fair access to gas infrastructure and transparent network planning, the regulation aims to build a more resilient, secure and sustainable energy future for Europe.
KEY POINTS
Regulation (EU) 2024/1789, which is a recast of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 (part of the third energy package), is part of a broader effort, which also includes the corresponding Directive (EU) 2024/1788, to decarbonise Europe’s energy systems, focusing on natural gas and hydrogen markets. It is an essential piece of the fit-for-55 package, which aims to reduce carbon emissions by 55 % by 2030 and ultimately reach climate neutrality by 2050.
The main objectives are the following.
- Promoting renewable and low-carbon gases and facilitating the integration of renewable gases like biomethane and hydrogen into the energy system.
- Shifting away from fossil fuels by encouraging a transition from natural gas to renewable and low-carbon gases to meet the EU’s climate action targets for 2030 and 2050.
- Ensuring fair and transparent access to gas networks, storage and LNG facilities for all market participants.
Integrating renewable gases
- The European Commission will encourage the use of renewable and low-carbon gases, especially hydrogen and biomethane, across the EU, with a particular focus on coal and carbon-intensive regions.
- Renewable gas will be promoted in industrial processes, district heating and energy storage sectors to reduce reliance on solid fossil fuels.
- The Commission will support the conversion of current fossil fuel systems to renewable and low-carbon hydrogen and biomethane.
- A hydrogen-ready workforce will be created to ensure skilled labour is available to manage the transition to hydrogen and renewable gases.
Network planning
- The regulation emphasises the importance of integrated, transparent network planning across the EU, based on the principle of energy efficiency first.
- Gas and hydrogen network operators are required to prepare a 10-year EU network development plan, outlining the infrastructure and capacity needed to support the transition to renewable gases and hydrogen.
Natural gas demand aggregation and joint purchasing
- The Commission will establish a voluntary mechanism for EU Member States to aggregate their natural gas demand and purchase gas jointly.
- This mechanism is designed to diversify gas supplies and phase out dependence on Russian natural gas.
- Gas companies in Energy Community countries may also participate in joint purchasing efforts.
- Supplies from Russia and Belarus are excluded from the joint purchasing mechanism to reduce dependency on these sources.
Developing a hydrogen market
- The Commission may set up a mechanism to support the hydrogen market, to be implemented through the European Hydrogen Bank. This voluntary mechanism may remain in place until December 2029.
- A new EU entity, the European Network of Network Operators for Hydrogen (ENNOH), is established, independent of existing entities of gas (ENTSOG) and electricity (ENTSO-E) transmission system operators but collaborating with them to enhance synergies across sectors.
Possibility for national measures against natural gas supplies from Russia and Belarus
- Member States may impose restrictions on capacity bookings for natural gas, including LNG, from Russia or Belarus, to protect national and EU essential security interests.
- These measures are designed to safeguard the security of supply while ensuring a diverse range of energy sources.
Solidarity between Member States
The regulation also amends Regulation (EU) 2017/1938, establishing default provisions for solidarity between Member States during a gas supply crisis when bilateral agreements are not in place.
- A cross-border mechanism will handle compensation disputes and the revision of compensation after such crises.
- Member States may reduce the non-essential gas consumption of protected customers to facilitate more natural gas savings, in particular during a crisis.
- Safeguards will be in place to maintain cross-border gas flows during a crisis.
- Member States may also voluntarily supply gas through market-based mechanisms, if they are not directly connected to the gas network of a requesting country.
Network tariffs for hydrogen
- National regulatory authorities must consult neighbouring regulatory bodies on their draft tariff methodologies for hydrogen networks.
- The Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) will review these methodologies and provide non-binding opinions if requested by national regulators.
- Each national regulatory authority will retain the final decision-making power to set tariffs, but ACER will provide guidance and inform the Commission of outcomes.
FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?
The regulation has applied since 5 February 2025, except Article 11(3)(b), Article 34(6) and Article 84, which have applied since 1 January 2025. Section 5 has also applied since 1 January 2025, except Articles 42, 43, 44, 52, 53 and 54, which have applied since 4 August 2024.
BACKGROUND
For further information, see:
MAIN DOCUMENT
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) (OJ L, 2024/1789, 15.7.2024).
RELATED DOCUMENTS
Regulation (EU) 2024/1787 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on the reduction of methane emissions in the energy sector and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/942 (OJ L, 2024/1787, 15.7.2024).
Directive (EU) 2024/1788 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on common rules for the internal markets for renewable gas, natural gas and hydrogen, amending Directive (EU) 2023/1791 and repealing Directive 2009/73/EC (recast) (OJ L, 2024/1788, 15.7.2024).
Directive (EU) 2023/1791 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 September 2023 on energy efficiency and amending Regulation (EU) 2023/955 (recast) (OJ L 231, 20.9.2023, pp. 1–111).
Regulation (EU) 2022/869 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2022 on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure, amending Regulations (EC) No 715/2009, (EU) 2019/942 and (EU) 2019/943 and Directives 2009/73/EC and (EU) 2019/944, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 (OJ L 152, 3.6.2022, pp. 45–102).
Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) 2022/869 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (European Climate Law) (OJ L 243, 9.7.2021, pp. 1–17).
Regulation (EU) 2019/942 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 establishing a European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (recast) (OJ L 158, 14.6.2019, pp. 22–53).
See consolidated version.
Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action, amending Regulations (EC) No 663/2009 and (EC) No 715/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Directives 94/22/EC, 98/70/EC, 2009/31/EC, 2009/73/EC, 2010/31/EU, 2012/27/EU and 2013/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 2009/119/EC and (EU) 2015/652 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, pp. 1–77).
See consolidated version.
Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (recast) (OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, pp. 82–209).
See consolidated version.
Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 contributing to climate action to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 (OJ L 156, 19.6.2018, pp. 26–42).
See consolidated version.
Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2017 concerning measures to safeguard the security of gas supply and repealing Regulation (EU) No 994/2010 (OJ L 280, 28.10.2017, pp. 1–56).
See consolidated version.
Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/459 of 16 March 2017 establishing a network code on capacity allocation mechanisms in gas transmission systems and repealing Regulation (EU) No 984/2013 (OJ L 72, 17.3.2017, pp. 1–28).
Regulation (EU) 2015/757 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 on the monitoring, reporting and verification of carbon dioxide emissions from maritime transport, and amending Directive 2009/16/EC (OJ L 123, 19.5.2015, pp. 55–76).
See consolidated version.
Commission Regulation (EU) No 312/2014 of 26 March 2014 establishing a Network Code on Gas Balancing of Transmission Networks (OJ L 91, 27.3.2014, pp. 15–35).
Regulation (EU) No 1227/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on wholesale energy market integrity and transparency (OJ L 326, 8.12.2011, pp. 1–16).
See consolidated version.
Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, pp. 32–46).
See consolidated version.
