With the aim of achieving the Union’s climate and energy targets, this Directive establishes a common framework for the decarbonisation of the markets for natural gas and hydrogen. It lays down common rules for the transmission, distribution, supply and storage of natural gas using the natural gas system, and consumer protection provisions, in order to create an integrated, competitive and transparent market for natural gas in the Union. This Directive sets out the rules relating to the organisation and functioning of that sector, access to the market, the criteria and procedures applicable to the granting of authorisations for transmission, distribution, supply and storage of natural gas using the natural gas system and the operation of that system. It also establishes common rules for the transport, supply and storage of natural gas and the transition of the natural gas system towards an integrated and highly efficient system based on renewable gas and low-carbon gas. This Directive lays down common rules for the transport, supply and storage of hydrogen using the hydrogen system. It sets out rules relating to the organisation and functioning of that sector, access to the market, the criteria and procedures applicable to the granting of authorisations for networks, supply and storage of hydrogen and the operation of that system. It establishes rules for the progressive establishment of a Union-wide interconnected hydrogen system contributing to the long-term flexibility of the electricity system and to the reduction of net greenhouse gas emissions of hard-to-decarbonise sectors taking into account the greenhouse gas abatement potential and the energy and cost-efficiency in relation to other options and thereby supporting the decarbonisation of the Union energy system.
2024-06-13