The Hydrogen Backbone: Broken From The Beginning?

A key objective of the draft Directive on common rules for the internal markets in renewable and natural gases and in hydrogen ("D-GD"), published in December 2021 as part of the European Commission's Hydrogen and decarbonised gas market package, is the regulation of hydrogen ("H2") as an independent energy carrier transported via dedicated H2 networks. The EC thereby follows a rather strict approach by establishing rules on network access, tariffs and unbundling ex ante. Some of these rules are even stricter than those for the electricity and natural gas markets. But will this approach promote the development of a cross-border H2 network, which is crucial for the decarbonisation of European gas markets? Apart from that, the D-GD appears to be in breach of EU law.