The AquaVentus Förderverein e.V. welcomes the present draft legislation, which not only initiates the second stage in the development of a Germany-wide hydrogen network but also consolidates the acceleration of the hydrogen market ramp-up.
In this context, however, AquaVentus wishes to point out that the inclusion of offshore infrastructure in the North Sea must be incorporated into the regular process for integrated network planning from 2025 onwards. Only in this way can the necessary transport infrastructure be created to fully realise the hydrogen potential referred to both in the National Hydrogen Strategy and in the Federal Government's import strategy.
Including offshore infrastructure would carry forward the logic of the criteria applied in building the hydrogen core network: here the amendment to the Energy Industry Act (EnWG) makes clear in its explanatory memorandum that offshore pipelines in the German Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the North and Baltic Seas are to be taken into account in the core network. These pipelines will be central import routes for hydrogen and will contribute substantially to the hydrogen ramp-up in Germany and Europe.
We therefore consider it necessary that the new Network Development Plan for Gas and Hydrogen must also cover offshore hydrogen pipelines, and we would welcome an adjustment to the wording of Section 15a that includes offshore infrastructure as well.