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Gas Infrastructure Europe

GIE

Gas Infrastructure Europe represents European gas infrastructure operators active in transmission, storage and LNG terminals, working on renewable and low-carbon molecules including hydrogen.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Gabriela Tschirkova (Cabinet of Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis)

18 Dec 2025 · EU Methane Emissions Regulation

Meeting with Mechthild Woersdoerfer (Deputy Director-General Energy) and

3 Dec 2025 · Implementation of the Methane Regulation 2024/1787 (EUMR)

Meeting with Andreas Glück (Member of the European Parliament)

6 Nov 2025 · Climate and Energy Policy

Meeting with Bruno Tobback (Member of the European Parliament)

5 Nov 2025 · Gas Infrastructure

Meeting with Jens Geier (Member of the European Parliament)

22 Oct 2025 · Exchange on EU Grids Package and Hydrogen Ramp up

Meeting with Michael Mcnamara (Member of the European Parliament)

21 Oct 2025 · Europe’s energy transition

Meeting with Radan Kanev (Member of the European Parliament)

21 Oct 2025 · European Grids policy

Meeting with Andrea Wechsler (Member of the European Parliament)

20 Oct 2025 · EU Energy and industry policy

Gas Infrastructure Europe urges permanent EU gas storage targets

13 Oct 2025
Topic — This consultation reviews EU energy security rules to better integrate renewable energy sources.
Message — They request mandatory storage targets after 2027 and supply contracts backed by physical gas. They also want to include hydrogen and electricity risks in future security planning.12
Why — This provides financial incentives and long-term relevance for existing and future gas infrastructure.3
Impact — Electricity sectors and member states may pay more through mandatory infrastructure cost-sharing mechanisms.4
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Gas Infrastructure Europe calls for streamlined energy market reporting

15 Sept 2025
Topic — The Commission is revising rules for reporting data on wholesale energy market transactions.
Message — The group requests a harmonized system to avoid double reporting to national and European regulators. They urge extending implementation to 18 months and exempting operators' internal energy purchases from disclosure.123
Why — These changes would lower operational costs by removing redundant and complex reporting requirements.4
Impact — Regulators could lose access to data points intended to provide a complete market picture.5
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Gas Infrastructure Europe Urges Proportionate Reporting and Reduced Burdens

15 Sept 2025
Topic — Proposed EU regulations for the authorization and supervision of energy data platforms.
Message — The organization requests the removal of duplicate reporting requirements and a simplified authorization process for established platforms. They propose extending the implementation timeline to 18 months to allow for necessary technical adjustments and guidance.12
Why — This would lower compliance costs and prevent operational disruptions for non-profit infrastructure operators.34
Impact — Regulators may lose immediate access to certain detailed data formats, potentially slowing market monitoring.5
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Response to Gas SoS – risk groups amendment

14 Aug 2025

Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the European Commissions public consultation on the update of regional risk groups under Article 3(8) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 concerning measures to safeguard the security of gas supply. As the voice of the gas infrastructure operators in Europe, GIE supports the Commissions efforts to adapt the composition of risk groups to reflect evolving market realities, infrastructure developments, and geopolitical shifts. In this context, GIE submits the following feedback to ensure that the revised framework remains robust, equitable, and operationally effective across Member States. - Availability and access to storage sites: GIE strongly recommends that the availability and access to gas storage sites be explicitly considered in the composition of risk groups. This critical factor is currently absent from the Commissions assessment and must be integrated to reflect the operational realities of supply resilience. Storage infrastructure is a cornerstone of security of supply, and its strategic role should be recognised in both risk group design and emergency planning. - Solidarity mechanism and implementation challenges: While the reorganisation of risk groups aims to strengthen regional solidarity, practical implementation remains weak. Few bilateral solidarity agreements exist under Article 13 of the Gas SoS Regulation. This highlights the need for a binding framework or enforceable bilateral agreements to ensure solidarity mechanisms are operational and effective. - Diverging national storage and precautionary policies: Solidarity within a risk group requires that all Member States fully utilise their precautionary options. Not all Member States maintain strategic gas reserves, resulting in unequal starting conditions. Countries with high storage capacity are central actors in regional supply security. This should be reflected in risk group assessments and any compensation mechanisms developed. - Inconsistent supply standards: There are significant disparities in how Member States implement the supply standard for protected customers. This raises the question of whether uniform minimum requirements should be established within each risk group to prevent asymmetric obligations. - Need for a compensation mechanism: Operators with high technical capacity and low domestic obligations are likely to act as a net contributor in crisis scenarios which could result in unilateral losses. GIE therefore calls for a regulated compensation mechanism, such as financial compensation payments or joint participation in storage and infrastructure costs. Such mechanisms are essential to ensure fair burden-sharing and to avoid penalising Member States that invest heavily in precautionary measures. Currently, no EU-level compensation framework exists, leaving proactive Member States at a disadvantage. Conclusion: GIE recommends the Commission to: - Integrate storage access and strategic reserves into risk group criteria. - Promote binding solidarity agreements. - Harmonise supply standards across Member States. - Establish a compensation mechanism to ensure fairness and sustainability.
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Gas infrastructure operators demand more funding for hydrogen grids

4 Aug 2025
Topic — The consultation addresses upgrading European energy infrastructure to ensure secure, clean, and affordable energy.
Message — The association requests that the EU Grid Package include hydrogen, CO2, and biomethane alongside electricity. They advocate for increased funding and de-risking mechanisms like intertemporal cost allocation.12
Why — This would reduce investment risks and help secure financing for hydrogen projects.3
Impact — Renewable electricity projects could face reduced funding as budgets are split with gas infrastructure.4
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Response to EU Ports Strategy

28 Jul 2025

Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), representing Europes infrastructure operators, and notably LNG terminal operators, welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop a comprehensive EU Ports Strategy. As critical infrastructure at the crossroads of energy, trade, and industry, LNG terminals are uniquely positioned to support the EUs goals for energy security, decarbonisation, and industrial competitiveness. In recent years, LNG terminals have proven their added value to the EU energy system. Following the reduction in Russian pipeline gas imports, terminals played a vital role in maintaining Europes energy supply. Their ability to source energy from various global locations has made them indispensable in enhancing the EUs resilience to geopolitical shocks. Looking ahead, these terminals are ready to support the transition to renewable and low-carbon energy by enabling the import of hydrogen derivatives such as ammonia and low-carbon methane (synthetic or biomethane). One of the LNG terminals' greatest assets is its flexibility. They can be repurposed to handle a variety of molecules, allowing for a gradual and regionally tailored transition to cleaner energy sources. This flexibility is crucial for supporting industrial decarbonisation and the energy infrastructure needed to meet the EUs climate goals. LNG terminals are well-positioned to support the evolution of ports as clean energy hubs, including the ability to receive, temporarily store, and export captured CO. Moreover, ports have a unique opportunity to become the first global movers in the supply of sustainable fuels for shipping. Indeed, terminals also provide small-scale services, such as bunkering and truck and ship loading, that are becoming increasingly important as the LNG-propelled fleet grows. Beyond LNG, bio-LNG liquefaction by equivalence is critical to reach maritime transport decarbonisation targets. Under the equivalence system, purchasing bio-LNG triggers injecting an equal volume of biomethane into the gas grid, verified through RED. This approach optimises the use of existing infrastructure, avoids redundant energy consumption and GHG emissions, and encourages increased biomethane production in the EU. These services are particularly relevant in light of the FuelEU Maritime Regulation, which requires cleaner fuels at scale and safe storage and bunkering solutions in ports. To fully realise the potential of LNG terminals within the EU Ports Strategy, GIE recommends to: (1) Recognise the multi-molecular role of terminals in handling multiple energy carriers, including methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and its derivatives. (2) Support the development of small-scale LNG services and infrastructure. These services optimise the use of existing infrastructure, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance regional energy flexibility. However, finding the required long-term commitments is challenging. (3) Support and maintain the existing EU rules around bioLNG liquefaction by equivalence, which are a vital piece of the puzzle to decarbonise the maritime sector. In conclusion, GIE strongly supports the development of a forward-looking EU Ports Strategy that recognises the strategic role of LNG terminals. These facilities are vital for securing Europes energy supply and enabling a flexible, resilient, and sustainable energy system. GIE stands ready to work with the European Commission, Member States, and other stakeholders to ensure that ports (and the terminals within them) support Europes energy transition.
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Meeting with Annika Kroon (Head of Unit Mobility and Transport) and EUROGAS and

24 Jun 2025 · Certification of Biomethane in Europe

Meeting with Kamil Talbi (Cabinet of Commissioner Dan Jørgensen) and NOVE

12 Jun 2025 · Security of supply, infrastructures

Meeting with Kitti Nyitrai (Head of Unit Energy)

16 May 2025 · Introductory meeting

Meeting with Andrea Wechsler (Member of the European Parliament) and Future Cleantech Architects and LANXESS AG

9 Apr 2025 · EU energy and industry policy

Meeting with Andrea Wechsler (Member of the European Parliament) and FuelsEurope and

1 Apr 2025 · EU energy and industry policy

Meeting with Borys Budka (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and EUROGAS

1 Apr 2025 · Gas Storage regulation

Meeting with Filip Turek (Member of the European Parliament)

19 Mar 2025 · Energy policies in Europe

Meeting with Bruno Tobback (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

3 Mar 2025 · Energy politics, sustainable transition and infrastructure

Meeting with Cristina Lobillo Borrero (Director Energy)

25 Feb 2025 · potential extension of the Gas Storage Regulation the broader legislative proposals on energy security architecture

Meeting with Jeannette Baljeu (Member of the European Parliament)

12 Feb 2025 · Gas infrastructure

Gas Infrastructure Europe Urges Simpler Rules For Low-Carbon Hydrogen

25 Oct 2024
Topic — The Commission is establishing a methodology to measure greenhouse gas savings for low-carbon fuels.
Message — GIE requests simplicity and proportionality to encourage investment in the emerging low-carbon hydrogen market. They call for a level playing field between renewable and low-carbon energy sources using a technology-neutral approach. Finally, they propose a grandfathering clause to protect investors from future regulatory changes.123
Why — These proposals would provide investment certainty and reduce financial risks for gas infrastructure operators.4
Impact — Environmental advocates may argue that ignoring hydrogen leakage and grandfathering projects undermines strict climate goals.5
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Meeting with András Gyürk (Member of the European Parliament)

5 Jul 2024 · Overview of the EU energy policy on natural gas

Gas infrastructure operators urge removal of redundant reporting burdens

1 Dec 2023
Topic — The Commission aims to reduce reporting burdens in EU legislation by 25%.
Message — Gas infrastructure operators recommend eliminating manual data services and avoiding redundant reporting across different authorities. They advocate for harmonizing data collection streams and granting regulators direct access to existing databases to improve efficiency.123
Why — This would lower operational costs and reduce risks associated with manual reporting.45
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Meeting with Ville Niinistö (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur for opinion)

23 Oct 2023 · Net Zero Industry Act

Gas Infrastructure Europe Urges Integration of Gas and Hydrogen Infrastructure

19 May 2023
Topic — This consultation seeks input on reforming the European Union’s electricity market design and regulation.
Message — The organization requests that the reform recognizes gas and hydrogen infrastructure for seasonal energy storage and system flexibility. They advocate for renewable and low-carbon definitions and structural capacity mechanisms to support power generation capacity. They also want gas infrastructure operators involved in assessing the electricity system’s flexibility needs.123
Why — This would protect the value of gas assets while securing subsidies for hydrogen infrastructure.45
Impact — Consumers may face increased costs to subsidize power plants that remain mostly idle.6
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Meeting with Diederik Samsom (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans) and ExxonMobil Petroleum Chemical and

25 Apr 2023 · Energy, environmental and digital challenges of our time

Meeting with Kadri Simson (Commissioner) and

26 Oct 2022 · Joint purchasing options.

Meeting with Jutta Paulus (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

14 Sept 2022 · Methane strategy

Response to Regulation on REPowerEU chapters

20 Jul 2022

Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), representing almost 70 European companies operating transmission pipelines, storage facilities and LNG terminals, shares the European Commission’s (EC) objectives of achieving climate-neutrality by 2050. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the urgent need for security and diversification of supply has become even more pressing. Please find attached GIE's response to the updated EU legislation to make the EU independent from Russian fossil fuels (REPowerEU).
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Meeting with Tatiana Marquez Uriarte (Cabinet of Commissioner Kadri Simson)

28 Jun 2022 · EU RePower Plan - Panellist

Gas Infrastructure Europe Urges Flexibility in Storage Filling Targets

26 May 2022
Topic — The consultation concerns new EU regulations for mandatory gas storage filling and security.
Message — GIE suggests allowing diverse entities to manage stocks and reducing intermediary targets to protect trading. They also want certification requirements limited to specific risky operators.123
Why — Operators would avoid heavy administrative costs and maintain the ability to trade gas profitably.45
Impact — Member States may lose the guarantee that gas is injected according to schedule.6
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Gas infrastructure operators urge flexibility in EU methane rules

14 Apr 2022
Topic — New EU legislation to monitor and reduce methane emissions in the energy sector.
Message — The associations request flexible leak detection schedules and proportionality to avoid high costs. They argue that site-level measurement technology is too immature for mandatory obligations.12
Why — These proposals would reduce compliance burdens and prevent expensive requirements for inactive wells.34
Impact — Climate advocates lose guaranteed rapid leak repairs and stricter oversight of emissions.5
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Response to Revision of EU rules on Gas

12 Apr 2022

Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), representing almost 70 European companies operating transmission pipelines, storage facilities and LNG terminals, shares the European Commission’s (EC) objectives of improving the gas market framework and to decarbonise the gas system. The future integrated energy system fulfilling the European Green Deal’s objectives will consist of renewable electricity and renewable and low-carbon gases, supported by an extensive infrastructure ensuring effective competition and security of supply. Please find GIE's response to the recast of the Gas Regulation attached.
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Gas Infrastructure Europe Urges Flexible Rules for Hydrogen Repurposing

12 Apr 2022
Topic — Updating European Union legislation to facilitate the market entry of renewable gas.
Message — GIE requests that gas companies be allowed to operate hydrogen networks within one entity. They advocate extending current ownership rules to hydrogen to maintain investment incentives. The group also seeks urgent clarification on the methodology for defining low-carbon gases.123
Why — Members would significantly lower their costs by repurposing existing gas assets for hydrogen.4
Impact — Independent hydrogen producers lose the competitive safeguards provided by strict corporate separation rules.5
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Meeting with Jens Geier (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and EUROGAS and European Roundtable on Climate Change and Sustainable Transition

17 Mar 2022 · Exchange on the gas market directive

Meeting with Kadri Simson (Commissioner) and

1 Feb 2022 · Discussion on the main elements of the Hydrogen and Gas Decarbonisation Package published in December 2021 and the development of energy prices.

Response to European Strategy on international energy engagement

20 Dec 2021

Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), representing almost 70 European companies operating storage facilities, transmission pipelines and LNG terminals, welcomes the European Commission's call for evidence on the European strategy on international energy engagement. Please find GIE's feedback and considerations attached.
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Response to Review of Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency

19 Nov 2021

Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), representing almost 70 European companies operating storage facilities, transmission pipelines and LNG terminals, welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to revise the EU Energy Efficiency Directive and adapt it to the EU’s target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, compared to 1990. In the context of this draft revision, please find GIE's feedback and considerations attached.
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Response to Revision of the Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001

18 Nov 2021

Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), representing almost 70 European companies operating storage facilities, transmission pipelines and LNG terminals, welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to review the recast of the Renewable Energy Directive. In the context of this draft revision and to facilitate the deployment of renewable energy, please find GIE's feedback and considerations attached.
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Response to Updating the EU Emissions Trading System

8 Nov 2021

Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), representing almost 70 European companies operating storage facilities, transmission pipelines and LNG terminals, welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to revise the EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS). In the context of this draft revision and to strengthen market-based instruments to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, please find GIE's feedback and considerations attached.
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Response to FuelEU Maritime

8 Nov 2021

Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), representing almost 70 European companies operating storage facilities, transmission pipelines and LNG terminals, welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to encourage the use of low-carbon fuels in the maritime sector. In the context of the FuelEU Maritime Regulation, please find GIE's feedback and considerations attached.
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Meeting with Filip Alexandru Negreanu Arboreanu (Cabinet of Commissioner Adina Vălean)

13 Oct 2021 · Decarbonizing transport

Response to Action plan on the digitalisation of the energy sector

10 Sept 2021

Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), as the association of the European gas infrastructure operators of gas transmission networks, storages, and LNG terminals, representing 70 operators from 26 European countries, reflects the GIE members commitment to help deliver EU’s goal in being the first continent achieving climate neutrality by 2050 at the lowest possible cost. Digitalisation is a key element in the foreseen complex hybrid energy system needed to reach the ambitious Green Deal objectives that will require instant reactions on balancing, accommodating, coordinated planning and operation into delivering more diversified energy sources. Traditional transporting, storing and delivering will not be enough in providing the needed energy at the right time at the right place. The COVID challenge highlighted even more than ever the importance of a solid digitalised foundation than can provide flexibility and solutions over the traditional way of working. Digitalisation solutions should ideally be rapidly deployed among the players and ensure continuous and mutualised innovation.
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Response to Detailed implementing rules for the voluntary schemes recognised by the European Commission

27 Jul 2021

Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), representing 67 European companies operating storage facilities, transmission pipelines and LNG terminals, welcomes the European Commission’s initiative on more detailed rules to verify sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria and low-indirect land-use change-risk criteria. In the context of this draft Implementing Regulation and to facilitate the practical implementation of the recast Renewable Energy Directive (REDII), please find GIE's feedback and considerations attached. GIE is aware of the urgency of timelines and is fully available to collaborate with the Commission on all these important and necessary tasks.
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Response to Revision of EU rules on Gas

10 Mar 2021

Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) welcomes the European Commission's initiative to give feedback to the roadmap on Gas networks - revision rules on market access. We appreciate the opportunity to submit our views and opinions in the document attached. We are looking forward to continuing the discussion with the European Commission.
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Response to Revision of the guidelines for trans-European Energy infrastructure

8 Mar 2021

Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) welcomes the European Commission’s (EC) proposal for the revision of the TEN-E regulation and the inclusion of renewable and low-carbon gas infrastructure projects in the revised TEN-E. We believe that the EC’s approach should be effectively geared towards technology-neutrality and a full life cycle analysis of all sources and vectors of energy. This would avoid preferential treatments and allow all potential energy sources to contribute to decarbonisation. We believe that these energy infrastructure categories will help deliver the EU’s 2050 target and should therefore be addressed in the revised TEN-E: 1) Hydrogen infrastructure 2) Smart Gas Grids 3) Electrolysers 4) CBA methodology Please find more details in the attached file hereby.
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Response to Climate change mitigation and adaptation taxonomy

18 Dec 2020

Gas infrastructure Europe (GIE) represents the European gas transmission operators, gas storage facilities and LNG terminals. We share the European Commission’s opinion that renewable and low carbon gases and a future-proofed gas infrastructure will play a key role to fulfill the EU Green Deal’s objectives, in particular to contribute to the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors. To achieve these objectives, we support a technology-neutral EU Taxonomy based on realistic technical thresholds and screening criteria to determine what is environmentally sustainable. While the draft delegated act already contains numerous improvements compared to the TEG proposal in March 2020, most notably the inclusion of transmission and distribution networks for renewable and low-carbon gases as a sustainable activity, the contribution of other transitional and low-carbon activities and technologies need to be further explored and recognised to safeguard a resilient and affordable energy transition. GIE would like to suggest the inclusion of the following as sustainable activities: • The operation and where necessary construction of gas infrastructure for transitional activities as stated in Art. 10 (3) of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 (please see Annex attached). This will foster the immediate coal- and oil-to-gas switch in some regions across the European Union, while preparing at the same time the energy system for the transition to renewable and low-carbon gases in the next decades. • Life-cycle GHG emissions: clarity needed of definition and calculation. • The retrofitting and conversion of current gas storage infrastructures for renewable and low carbon gases to enhance investor confidence and lower costs of the energy transition. • The operation and construction of LNG applications for maritime and heavy-duty transport. The transport of goods will be the result of the most efficient combination between shipping, road and railway. Already today, LNG is the universally clean, sustainable, affordable, available and flexible solution to decarbonize this multimodal system. These LNG applications are already fit for liquified biomethane, liquefied synthetic methane that will contribute to the decarbonisation of transport sector. Clarifications are welcome on the following points: For clarity to both investors and asset owners, some of the central terms applied by the draft delegated act and its annexes need further clarification before final adoption. Otherwise, investors and infrastructure operators will face legal uncertainty concerning the eligibility of their activities. Our clarification requests relate to: • The definitions for climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation that are of upmost importance to best envisage which activity fall under which strategy. • The lexicon of activity 4.14 which is not sufficiently clear and falls short to provide definitions of key terms such as “repurposing”, “retrofitting”, “blend of hydrogen”“storage of hydrogen” and “the gas system”. These terms need clear definitions and thresholds, for example in the case of hydrogen blending, when adopting the delegated act. • The addition of the operation of converted/repurposed pipelines to the main text of the Delegated Act. In this context, GIE would like to propose the attached recommendations and would be pleased to further discuss them with the European Commission in a dedicated meeting.
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Response to Revision of the Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001

21 Sept 2020

The recently released European Commission’s Hydrogen and Energy System Integration strategies have confirmed the essential role of renewable and low-carbon gases in reaching a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. To speed up the transition towards these gases, an appropriate regulatory framework is needed. In this context, the revision of the recast of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) provides one excellent opportunity among others “to translate into legal measures the actions proposed in other energy strategies of the European Green Deal’ as suggested by Option 4 of the Inception Impact Assessment. Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), representing 70 European companies operating storage facilities, transmission pipelines and LNG terminals, welcomes the European Commission’s roadmap and public consultation on the revision of RED II. The inception impact assessment acknowledges the need for an accelerated and cost-effective deployment of renewable energy to fully decarbonise the economy –gas infrastructure operators, by accommodating growing shares of renewable and low-carbon gases into their networks and securing their supply to all end-user sectors, are committed to delivering on this. To this end, GIE members support the two proposals emanating from the Energy System Integration and Hydrogen strategies to “promote further development and use of renewable and other low-carbon fuels” and to “establish a comprehensive terminology and robust certification system including associated GHG and sustainability criteria, based on a robust life-cycle approach and traceability system”. These are in line with our recommendations made at the 33rd Madrid Forum jointly with other associations part of the ‘New Gases Network’ and the ‘Prime Movers Group’ . To create the right conditions for an EU-wide market for renewable and low-carbon gases to scale up, GIE calls for the following amendments: 1. The establishment of a common European terminology via clear, accurate and science-based definition for renewable and low-carbon gases. 2. The introduction of the obligation for Member States to issue GOs for all renewable and low-carbon gases. 3. The development of an EU-wide credible certification system based on Guarantees of Origin (GOs) including associated GHG and sustainability criteria. 4. The implementation of a set of technology-neutral national binding targets for renewable and low-carbon gases. 5. The establishment of some appropriate administrative rules concerning authorization, certification and licensing procedures at EU level. All these recommendations are explained and detailed in the attachment. GIE would be pleased to further discuss this contribution at the upcoming 34th Madrid Forum, during dedicated workshops or through the future open public consultation.
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Response to Review of Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency

21 Sept 2020

Gas Infrastructure Europe represents the European gas transmission operators, gas storage facilities and LNG terminals. Our response is based on responding to the aim: “This initiative aims to address the current low decarbonisation and renovation rates across the EU as well as provide a framework for renovation to play a key role in supporting a green and digital recovery.” Please see our complete views in the file attached hereby.
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Response to EU Methane Strategy

5 Aug 2020

Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) input, with MARCOGAZ technical support, on the EU methane emissions strategy.
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Response to Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy

29 Jul 2020

GIE welcomes EU’s ambition to deliver a 90% reduction in transport related GHG emissions and aim to become the first climate neutral region by 2050. GIE is looking forward to working closely with all relevant stakeholders to offer sustainable and cost-effective solutions for a multi-modal transport system. GIE represents the gas infrastructure business (gas pipelines, storages and LNG terminals) and has 70 members from 26 European countries. GIE believes that already today natural gas (CNG/LNG) as fuel for mobility (marine, heavy-duty transport and railway) can meet EU’s climate and air quality targets and further prepares the ground for low-carbon and renewable gases (biomethane, synthetic methane and hydrogen). LNG-using systems can work with carbon neutral liquified biomethane (LBM) and liquified synthetic methane (LSM) and no additional investments in upgrading are required. General asks: > Long-term and stable regulatory framework and a clear long-term plan for each fuel as key conditions for alternative fuels’ build up; > Technology neutrality. All technologies should develop and prove their potential to reduce required emissions by 2050 in the most cost-efficient way on a level playing field (while complying with IMO standards in the maritime); > Coherency of the Strategy with REDII binding targets on RES (14%) in transport by 2030; > Revise the CO2 emissions standard regulation to properly value the contribution of carbon neutral gases (LBM and LSM) according to a Life Cycle approach or Well-to-Wheel. A common system of Guarantees of Origins (GOs) that proves the green value of all renewable and low-carbon gases should be developed in this sense. In this way, vehicles manufacturers will be encouraged to produce and invest in gas efficient engines compatible with those fuels. In absence of a carbon border adjustment mechanism, consider the emissions of vehicle and battery manufacturing. > Coherency with the FuelEU Maritime and Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive as well as with the Energy System Integration and Hydrogen strategies; > Mobilize research and foster innovation in the renewable fuels sector; > Improve efficiency across the whole transport system, including through multimodality. To 2030 and beyond, the design of a multimodal transport system of goods and passengers within the EU will be the result of the most efficient and sustainable combination between waterborne transport, road and railway; Take full advantage of existing assets for tomorrow’s climate-neutral fuels: > Continue boosting today the small-scale LNG infrastructure that can be used in the long-term for carbon neutral alternative fuels like LBM and LSM. LNG-fuelled ships and trucks can use LBM and LSM with little or no modifications; the gradual replacement of LNG with LBM or LSM or CNG with BioCNG will avoid i) devalued or stranded assets and ii) avoid the need for future capital intensive infrastructure. Given these climate-neutral substitutes, LNG or CNG do not create any lock-in effect. > Support the development of refuelling infrastructure, combining existing programmes (e.g. TEN-T and TEN-E corridors) and available ones, or of new finance/guarantee tools; > Support new & retrofitted CNG/LNG vehicles, trains and vessels; > Enhance the projects for the construction both of coastal deposits combined with mobile refueling solutions and microliquefaction plants. Hydrogen can also be an option in the longer-term: > Development of infrastructure for refuelling hydrogen also in multi-fuel stations, combining existing programmes (e.g. TEN-T and TEN-E corridors) and available ones or creating new finance/guarantee tools; > Binding targets within the Member States could encourage strategic planning of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure in collaboration between public and private stakeholders; > Support new & retrofitted hydrogen vehicles and vessels.
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Response to Revision of the EU Emission Trading System Monitoring and Reporting Regulation (MRR)

24 Jul 2020

GIE has 70 members from 26 European countries. They operate the European gas infrastructure (gas storages, LNG terminals and transmission pipelines) and support an EU-wide trustworthy system to document the green value of renewable and low-carbon gases such as Guarantees of Origin (GOs). GIE welcomes the European Commission’s revision of the Monitoring and Reporting Regulation (MRR) as an opportunity to introduce additional efficient instruments to cover the emissions limits and obligations of market participants in the ETS sectors. As jointly emphasised by GIE and ENTSOG at the 32nd and 33rd Madrid Fora, the EU ETS should enable the use of the green value of renewable and low-carbon gases certified by GOs for compliance with emission reduction obligations, along with the purchase of emission allowances and long-term investment in abatement technologies. To facilitate this, and based on the current MRR draft, GIE members call for the following: • A single harmonised market-oriented methodology to determine the biomass fraction of mixed fuels delivered by gas infrastructure across the European Union to the ETS operators. The adverse effect of diversified methodologies may be that differences in national rules would create market distortions with a negative impact over the willingness of investors to make long-term investments for the production of renewable and low-carbon gases compared to other types of energy (for instance, solid biomass) for which Member States rely only on one methodology. • The purchase records of biogas as the preferable methodology that needs, however, further clarification. GIE is convinced that GOs, as a market-based disclosure instrument tradable across Member States’ borders, could perfectly fit for this purpose while preventing against possible risks of double incentives for energy production or double counting in its consumption. • Clarifications on the ways that the compliance of biogas with the sustainability and GHG emission saving criteria of REDII could be verified by ETS operators. GOs, when upgraded with a sustainability and GHG emissions attribute as confirmed by voluntary sustainability schemes according to Articles 30 and 31 of REDII, would be ideally placed to document ETS operators on the compliance of their consumed biomass with these criteria. • An enlargement of the physical traceability or mass balancing notion to consider the gas grid as a single logistical point and capture the specificities of liquified biomethane. A practical system to allow liquified biomethane users to be exempted from CO2 quotas should be urgently implemented. • The extension of the scope of MRR to all renewable and low-carbon gases and fuels. Given their important contribution to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, especially in the EU ETS and transport sectors, all renewable and low-carbon gases (hydrogen, synthetic methane, biogas and biomethane) and liquified fuels (for instance, liquified biomethane or liquified synthetic methane) should be recognised for the purpose of emissions monitoring and accounting and their fraction in the burnt fuel should be identified in a similar way. In the future, unabated natural gas will be gradually replaced by renewable and low-carbon gases and fuels. As noted above, a methodology which counts and considers the contribution of these gases and fuels to the avoided CO2 emissions in the ETS sectors is needed in order to create them the right market conditions for scaling up their production. In particular, the recognition of guarantees of origin for the purpose of purchase record could facilitate such a shift. GIE would be pleased to further discuss this contribution which we hope you will find useful.
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Meeting with Adina-Ioana Vălean (Commissioner) and

11 Jun 2020 · Gas Infrastructure Europe & LNG industry

Meeting with Adina-Ioana Vălean (Commissioner) and

11 Jun 2020 · Waterborne transport and heavy-duty transport sectors

Response to A EU hydrogen strategy

8 Jun 2020

In light of the recent COVID-19 crisis, a fast and cost-efficient transition to a decarbonised society is possible if all available technologies and resources are considered. The European gas infrastructure and hydrogen will play a key role in contributing to the post-pandemic economic recovery and achieving full decarbonisation of energy supply in all sectors by 2050. In this respect, GIE supports the continuation of the European Union’s hydrogen initiatives for building a comprehensive and open-minded EU’s Hydrogen Strategy. As highlighted by Commission’s Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans during his press briefing about the EU’s proposed recovery plan on 28 May, the existing gas infrastructure is a valuable asset for the future development of the hydrogen value chain within the EU. • The gas transmission system, thanks to its ability to integrate varying geographies and scales across the EU, can be fit for transporting large volumes of hydrogen over long distances with relatively few additional investments. • Underground gas storages can provide large seasonal storage of renewable and low-carbon energy, including hydrogen: salt caverns, with some retrofitting, are suited for pure hydrogen and the current assessment on the potential of depleted gas fields is showing potential. • LNG terminals are well positioned to develop new services and contribute to the energy transition: besides other ways to decarbonise, they can, for example, be the entry door to (imported/exported) hydrogen-based energy carriers. As the market for hydrogen develops, a dedicated infrastructure may emerge in parallel at different scales, also in clusters where production, demand, transportation and storage can be effectively organised, allowing economies of scale, job creation and decarbonisation. Lessons from the experience of existing companies should be drawn to accelerate this development. Based on this combination of gas assets, hydrogen and its derivatives will enhance a hybrid energy system by benefitting from possible synergies between the gas and electricity infrastructure (optimising electrical grid expansion through better utilisation of existing gas infrastructure) while providing flexibility services under different temporal and geographical dimensions (smoothing out price fluctuations and avoiding demand curtailment). As a result, the Hydrogen Strategy should encourage gas infrastructure operators to continue with decarbonisation activities aimed at increasing the potential and actual quantities of hydrogen, developing, operating and owing innovative technology facilities and supporting their scaling-up, in a way that does not distort market competition, complies with the applicable regulatory framework and secures third party access to maximise societal benefits. GIE members are already initiating numerous initiatives and pilot projects to support the deployment of clean hydrogen - produced from electrolysis of low carbon electricity generation, natural gas steam reforming with CCS or natural gas pyrolysis - and would greatly benefit from appropriate regulatory measures to ensure the creation of a competitive market. For more details on GIE’s policy recommendations and the gas infrastructure industry’s innovative projects, please see the attachment.
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Response to Strategy for smart sector integration

8 Jun 2020

While the energy sector is under an extreme pressure from COVID-19, the European gas infrastructure, responsible for more than fifty thousand jobs, has proven to be resilient in these times. It continues to deliver low emission energy to the European industries and services, heat homes of millions of citizens and provide affordable and stable conditions for a sustainable economic recovery. For a 2050 climate-neutral EU, an integrated system building on the complementarity between electricity and renewable and low-carbon gases, as well as the optimal use of a (futureproof) existing infrastructure are key. Today, the gas system can integrate large quantities of renewable and low-carbon gases with limited technical adaptation depending on the Member States. -The gas transmission system is mostly well interconnected across EU’s countries and allows for highly economic and efficient supply, transport and storage of enormous amounts of energy from production sites over long distances. Gas grids are already suited for transporting biomethane and can be fit for hydrogen with additional investments. -Gas storages can store sustainable and fluctuating energy on a large scale and at low cost, thereby ensuring security of supply. They provide and run flexibility tools from intra-hourly up to seasonal operational requirements from customers enabling a robust and resilient system. Gas storages can also play an important role in storing renewable and low-carbon gases, including hydrogen, in the future: salt caverns, with some retrofitting, are suited for hydrogen and the current assessment on the potential of depleted gas fields is showing their great potential. In a future energy system largely dominated by intermittent energy production from wind and sun, the large flexibility and storage capacity provided by the gas system will be necessary to secure a cost-efficient integration of renewable energy sources. -LNG terminals enhance security of supply through source and route diversification and secure access to global and competitive (fossil and renewable) energy sources. They are also an energy flexibility provider. LNG can substitute more polluting fossil fuels, hence reducing CO2, NOx, SOx, noise and particulate matter emissions in maritime and road transport, power and heat generation (i.e. on remote locations not connected to the gas transmission system). LNG terminals can decarbonize by greening the gas upstream, by using low-carbon technologies downstream or can, for example, be the entry door to (imported) hydrogen-based energy carriers. The gas and electricity systems complement each other. The flexibility and resilience provided by the gas system to the electricity one alleviate the stress of the power grid, significantly reduce investments needed and facilitate the integration of large-scale variable renewable energy. As a result, the gas system, which in the future will run on renewable and low-carbon gases, is an enabler of system integration and the economic viability of renewable energy. New business models, support schemes and remuneration are needed to enable this. Renewable and low-carbon molecules will be a structural component of a secure and flexible energy system, in particular for the so-called “hard-to-electrify” sectors. Through effective energy system integration, energy infrastructure companies can help create sustainable jobs along today’s emerging renewable and low-carbon gas value chain. New decentralised gas business models are emerging in which energy generation is getting closer to the end-users. The gas infrastructure will enable the flexibility and link to new energy production and supply (offshore wind, decentral PV, renewable H2 import, etc.) with key demand centers across Europe. Specifically, as the Industry Strategy sets out, chemical and steel manufacturing are prime examples of such industries. Please see the attachment for more details.
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Response to Commission Communication – "Renovation wave" initiative for the building sector

8 Jun 2020

GIE has 69 members from 26 European countries. They operate the European gas infrastructure (LNG terminals, gas storages and transmission pipelines) and provide citizens with more than fifty thousand jobs, while supplying around 25% of EU’s primary energy consumption. GIE shares the EU’s ambition of reaching climate neutrality by 2050. GIE welcomes the Commission’s intentions as outlined in the Renovation Wave roadmap to draw on Member States’ National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) and Long-Term Renovation Strategies (LTRSs), to incorporate elements from other Commission initiatives, and to foster deeper renovation and decarbonisation rates in view of the 2050 climate neutrality objective. The energy transition will require significant investments, new technologies adapted to local needs, effective policies and behavioural changes. The future of heat needs to have a lower carbon footprint and to be affordable and convenient for consumers. To deliver net zero, reducing the carbon intensity of our heating, both for homes and the industry is a must. How we heat (and cool) our homes are an essential source of wellbeing in society and matters to all 450 million EU citizens. Therefore, involving all EU citizens to become agents of positive change and to achieve the 2050 climate objectives is vital. Heating accounts for a third of EU GHG emissions and half of final energy demand. Coupling the sectors electricity, gas, and heat - by linking their markets and their respective infrastructure in a better coordinated and integrated way - provides great overall benefits for the European energy system. However, there is no single solution for the decarbonisation of heat – there will be a broad mix of solutions, including both electricity and renewable and low carbon gases and decarbonised natural gas, while considering the switch from coal to gas as a potential first step in some areas. The best solution will be serving the aim of decarbonisation in the most cost-effective way to meet the needs of consumers and industry across the different EU regions. GIE is convinced that the gas infrastructure can deliver further emission reductions in the European heating system by integrating increasing shares of renewable and low-carbon gases such as synthetic methane, hydrogen, biomethane and biogas. Hydrogen and biomethane will have a valuable role to heat buildings that have gas grid connections with hybrid heating solutions and can provide high temperature heat in energy-intensive heavy industry . Decarbonised natural gas, renewable and low-carbon gases can be transported over long distances and can easily be stored for longer periods while being used by end-use sectors for which full electrification is challenging. For instance, the High-Level Group on Energy-intensive industries states that their sector will require increasingly higher shares of climate-neutral energy, including both electricity and hydrogen. The European gas infrastructure plays a crucial role in storing the energy required to secure affordable heating during the winter season and can enhance energy security. Moreover, in the areas with no access to the national distribution network, liquified natural gas (LNG) can be supplied to regasification stations that feed off-grid ‘island’ gas networks. Please find in the attachment more details about GIE's vision on the Renovation Roadmap.
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Meeting with Aleksandra Tomczak (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans), Diederik Samsom (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

19 May 2020 · Gas infrastructure in the context of climate neutrality

Meeting with Kitti Nyitrai (Cabinet of Commissioner Kadri Simson)

28 Feb 2020 · Discussion on energy efficiency, decarbonisation, hydrogen

Meeting with Aleksandra Tomczak (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans), Riccardo Maggi (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

24 Feb 2020 · Green deal, hydrogen and other renewables

Response to Climate Law

6 Feb 2020

GIE supports the EU climate neutrality by 2050 and the EU Green Deal. GIE recognizes the Climate Law as an essential step to more predictability for industry and investors and for a fair, just and effective energy transition. A clear governance and roadmap at all levels are keys to ensure that nobody is left behind. GIE has 70 members in 26 EU countries, operating LNG terminals, gas storages and transmission pipelines, thus providing thousands of jobs directly and indirectly. For over a decade, the EU has focused on the completion of a secure, flexible and competitive internal gas market with diverse routes and sources. GIE members have been fundamental to this process and are committed to continue contributing to the short, mid and long-term EU climate and energy ambitions. GIE members are ready and should be allowed to invest and engage in innovative projects aimed at deploying renewable and low-carbon gases, thus supporting their scale up. What EU gas infrastructure can do to achieve a carbon neutral 2050: • The gas transmission system is mostly well interconnected and allows for efficient transport and storage of gases from production sites and LNG regasifying stations and from and to storages over long distances; underground pipes are less vulnerable to weather and more acceptable to residents vs. high-voltage electricity lines. • Large scale gas storages with longer durations are essential in decarbonisation. They can store big volumes of energy (including electricity), thus ensuring security of supply through the physical availability of gas and intra-hourly up to seasonal flexibility needs. • LNG assets provide diversification, security of supply and flexibility to enable the integration of variable renewable energy sources. LNG provides opportunities to reduce C02, NOx, SOx, noise and particulate matter emissions in the maritime and road transport. It connects the EU to the global LNG market and supplies off-grid areas with energy. LNG terminals are the future gate to Europe for imported renewable energy. Key remarks for the EU Climate Law: • Viable, stable and predictable regulation for investor certainty and a “hybrid” energy system through: o Coal-to-gas switch in power&heating that can reduce emissions and improve air quality; o EU framework for gas that boosts renewable and low-carbon gases deployment and the use of the current gas infrastructure, thus ensuring a cost-effective energy transition (see study Gas for Climate 2019); o Targets for the injection and supply of renewable and low-carbon gases and a level playing-field between transmission and distribution gas networks. Targets to renewable should include low-carbon gases; o Certificates of origin that account for avoided C02 emissions. Develop specific and transparent certification process that enables cross-border and cross-energy trading of green energy that enables its respective tracking; o EU regulation that enables moving to market-based pricing along with measures for commercial capacities, in order to achieve efficient gas storage use in a level playing field. • Transport: o Technology-neutral approach to assess all solutions objectively. Maintain (bio)LNG as alternative fuel sources in EU legislation and consider (bio)CNG as realistic transition alternative; o Market uptake for (bio)LNG in mobility through a harmonised development of refuelling infrastructure, small-scale bunkering and multi-modal transport system design; o Full implementation of DAFI (2014/94/EU); o Sulphur Emission Control Areas zone extension to EU&Mediterranean coast to improve air quality; o Compatibility of SLNG infrastructure projects for the EU Sustainable Investment Plan. • A thorough impact assessment should be considered as the EU Climate Law specificities may have a big impact on the future investments and businesses in the EU.
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Meeting with Ditte Juul-Joergensen (Director-General Energy)

18 Dec 2019 · Green Deal, methane emissions and decarbonisation

Meeting with Miguel Arias Cañete (Commissioner)

19 Sept 2019 · Energy, renewables and infrastructure matters.

Response to European Partnership for Clean Hydrogen

27 Aug 2019

Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) welcomes the proposal to establish the European Partnerships for Clean Hydrogen under the Regulation establishing Horizon Europe. Gas infrastructure operators will continue to supply reliable, clean, affordable energy throughout the EU to 2050 and beyond in order to achieve climate targets in fast, efficient, affordable and cost-efficient manner. The gas infrastructure of transmission pipelines, underground storage and LNG regasification facilities can transport and store renewable and decarbonised gases (carbon-neutral or carbon-negative) including hydrogen to meet demand from the power, industry, land and marine transportation and heating sectors. Particular in North West Europe we see fast development toward large scale biomethane in production, as well as increasingly many new sustainable projects for hydrogen and sector coupling. Another path – but equally important for the 2050 climate goal – is the development in Central and Eastern Europe, where large scale conversion from coal and oil to natural gas, have large CO2 reductions as a direct effect. The gas system, which is based on a combination of gas infrastructures can a take large part in the transition of the energy system toward 2030 and 2050 by focusing more closely on the synergies (avoiding over-investments in new electric lines through better use of existing gas infrastructures assets) while providing flexibility services under different temporal and geographical dimensions (smoothing out price fluctuations and avoiding demand curtailment and supplying fast reacting balancing power plants) as well as offering large scale seasonal storage of energy to low prices (all ready possible today). From this, GIE strongly suggests that the scope of the new IEP to be revised and enlarged. New partnership on Hydrogen should not limit its scope only to storage and transport. R&D funds should prioritise aspects related to infrastructure in general, since hydrogen needs an appropriate infrastructure to connect production to consumption. As in this perspective, European gas infrastructures have a major potential role to play in developing the hydrogen economy and integrating hydrogen into the Internal Energy Market. Either direct as hydrogen infrastructure, via methanised hydrogen or through blending of hydrogen into the existing natural network. Therefore, we propose that other topics to be considered as well by the upcoming European Partnerships for Clean Hydrogen. Such topics can address the development of technologies in a broader context, that enable the use of hydrogen in gas infrastructure and influence of hydrogen on gas quality and gas properties and safety of hydrogen injection. It is our understanding that the entire group of stakeholders see the same transitional direction. GIE have a strong and regular contact with technology providers, end users, industrial organisations, etc. Thus, we see the ongoing transition toward large flexibility in end-user appliances and well as the digital layer, making the future gas consumption smoother and cheaper. We support the institutionalised European Partnership based on Article 187 TFEU (option 2) where the EU would set up a joint undertaking implementing a jointly developed research programme. This would allow for participation by any public or private entity supporting R&I in the scope of the clean hydrogen partnership and provide a ring-fenced budget over a long period, enabling the development and implementation of long-term strategies by supporting the industry to work together the research groups. Finally, we propose that the topic is assessed and discussed further between the industry and the Commission. An upcoming Madrid Forum could include these topics. *** GIE - Gas Infrastructure Europe - is representing 70 member companies from 26 countries, gathering operators of gas infrastructures across Europe: transmission pipelines, storage facilities and LNG terminals: www.gie.eu
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Meeting with Dominique Ristori (Director-General Energy)

12 Mar 2019 · le grand potentiel économique ouvert par la transition énergétique

Meeting with Dominique Ristori (Director-General Energy)

12 Jun 2018 · clean energy transition

Meeting with Joachim Balke (Cabinet of Vice-President Miguel Arias Cañete)

28 Jun 2016 · Market design

Meeting with Miguel Arias Cañete (Commissioner)

16 Feb 2016 · Gas policy

Meeting with Dominique Ristori (Director-General Energy)

8 Feb 2016 · gas and energy policy