3 July 2023 – TSOs initiate fourth demand assessment for incremental capacity
The auction for yearly capacity products on July 3 carried out on PRISMA and the Regional Booking Platform (RBP) indicates the beginning of the fourth demand assessment phase for incremental capacity according to the regulation (EU) 2017/459 (NC CAM).
Until August 28, Shippers have the possibility to state their non-binding demand indications on the website www.fnb-gas-capacity.de. The TSOs will evaluate the demand indication and initiate the following steps of the incremental capacity process, if necessary.
For the first time the German TSO will charge a fee for the activities resulting from the submission of non-binding demand indications.
05.06.2023 – Introduction of fees for Incremental Capacity
From the incremental capacity cycle 2023 - 2025 onwards, the German transmission system operators will charge a fee of €30,000 per market area border, type of request (incremental capacity or upgrade of existing capacity) and direction (entry or exit capacity) for their activities resulting from the submission of non-binding demand indications in accordance with Article 26 (11) of Regulation (EU) 2017/459 (NC CAM). Please note that the fee will also be charged if the transmission of the non-binding demand indication is not submitted to the applicants by the requesting party directly but by a third party (such as an adjacent, foreign TSO) (cf. point 37 BK9-22/042).
The approval by the Federal Network Agency and detailed information can be found in Decision BK9-22/042 or here.
09 March 2022 - Extension of consultation period for the project proposal ZTP - THE published on 18.01.2022 until 18.04.2022
At the request of the market, the involved German transmission system operators have extended the consultation period for the published project proposal ZTP (Belgium, Luxembourg) - THE (Germany). This means, market participants are invited to submit written comments to the FNB Gas (info(at)fnb-gas.de) until 18 April 2022.
As already announced, following the consultation, the involved transmission system operators will submit the project proposal for incremental capacities to the national regulatory authority for approval.
18 January 2022 - Gas transmission system operators launch consultation on incremental capacity
Germany’s gas transmission system operators are submitting their draft projects for new transmission capacities for consultation in accordance with Article 27(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/459 (Network Code on Capacity Allocation Mechanisms).
Providing the transmission capacities of 16.8 gigawatts (GW) requested as part of a non-binding enquiry will require building additional compressor-systems and a Gas pressure control and measuring station (GPCM). This would involve investments of about 148 million Euros. "By expanding capacities, the TSOs are preparing their gas networks to meet the shippers’ future transmission requirements," said Inga Posch, Managing Director of FNB Gas.
The proposed project for the border ZTP (Belgium, Luxembourg)– THE (Germany) is available for download from the FNB Gas website at www.fnb-gas-capacity.de. Written comments can be submitted to FNB Gas (info(at)fnb-gas.de) by 18 March 2022.
After the consultation phase, the transmission system operators will submit their project proposals for new capacity to the national regulatory authorities for approval.
5 July 2021 – TSOs initiate third demand assessment for incremental capacity
The auction for yearly capacity products on July 5 carried out on PRISMA and the Regional Booking Platform (RBP) indicates the beginning of the third demand assessment phase for incremental capacity according to the regulation (EU) 2017/459 (NC CAM).
Until August 30 Shippers have the possibility to state their non-binding demand indications on the website www.fnb-gas-capacity.de. The TSOs will evaluate the demand indication and initiate the following steps of the incremental capacity process, if necessary.
The TSOs want to point out that the demand indication for incremental capacity can only be stated between the newly implemented German market area Trading Hub Europe and neighboring entry-exit systems.
5 May 2021 – Transmission system operators publish framework for incremental capacity auctions in July 2021
Following approval by the relevant regulatory authorities, the German gas transmission system operators (TSOs) publish in due time the framework for the offer of new transmission capacity (incremental capacity) to be created at the market area borders to Denmark, Poland, Russia and Switzerland in accordance with Article 28(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/459 (network code on capacity allocation mechanisms). The incremental capacity will be offered on the two capacity booking platforms PRISMA and Regional Booking Platform (RBP) in the auction for annual capacity on 5 July 2021.
Based on the auction results, each incremental capacity project will undergo an economic test. If the test is positive, the incremental capacity project has to be implemented in accordance with the published project plan. The new capacities to be created will subsequently also be included in the process for the preparation of the German Gas Network Development Plan 2022–2032.
The specific parameters of the incremental capacity auctions can be found on the website of FNB Gas, the German Association of Transmission System Operators for Gas, at www.fnb-gas-capacity.de in the Cycles section on the Approval / Publication page under 2019–2021 Incremental Capacity Cycle.
31 August 2020 - Gas transmission system operators launch second part of the consultation on incremental capacity
Germany’s gas transmission system operators are submitting their draft projects for new transmission capacities at the borders to Russia and the Netherlands for consultation in accordance with Article 27(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/459 (Network Code on Capacity Allocation Mechanisms).
Providing the overall transmission capacities of up to 51.9 GW requested by shippers as part of a non-binding enquiry will require, among other things, building additional compressor and pipeline systems. This would involve investments of up to EUR 3.1 billion. "By expanding capacities at border crossing points, the TSOs are preparing their gas networks to meet the shippers’ future transmission requirements," said Inga Posch, Managing Director of FNB Gas.
The proposed projects for the borders Russia and the Netherlands are available for download from the FNB Gas website at www.fnb-gas-capacity.de. Written comments can be submitted to FNB Gas (info(at)fnb-gas.de) by 01 October 2020.
After the consultation phase, the transmission system operators will submit their project proposals for new capacity to the national regulatory authorities for approval.
10 August 2020 - Gas transmission system operators launch consultation on new transmission capacities to be created
Berlin. Germany’s gas transmission system operators are submitting their draft projects for new transmission capacities for consultation in accordance with Article 27(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/459 (Network Code on Capacity Allocation Mechanisms).
Providing the transmission capacities of up to 51.9 GW requested by shippers as part of a non-binding enquiry will require, among other things, building additional compressor and pipeline systems. This would involve investments of up to EUR 3.1 billion. "By expanding capacities at border crossing points, the TSOs are preparing their gas networks to meet the shippers’ future transmission requirements," said Inga Posch, Managing Director of FNB Gas.
The proposed projects for the borders with Denmark, Poland and Russia (request for capacity upgrade) are available for download from the FNB Gas website at www.fnb-gas-capacity.de. Written comments can be submitted to FNB Gas (info(at)fnb-gas.de) by 10 September 2020.
The combined project draft for the Netherlands and Russia for new transmission capacities will be published on 31 August 2020 at www.fnb-gas-capacity.de. For this proposed project written comments can be submitted to FNB Gas (info(at)fnb-gas.de) by 30 September 2020.
Following a market enquiry for the Swiss border and after talks with the Federal Network Agency the consultation phase for this border crossing is being extended from 20 August 2020 to 10 September 2020.
After the consultation phase, the transmission system operators will submit their project proposals for new capacity to the national regulatory authorities for approval.
20 July 2020 - Transmission System Operators start consultation for the Market area border Switzerland - THE according to European requirements
Berlin. The German transmission system operators submit the draft project for incremental transport capacities to be created for consultation in accordance with Article 27(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/459 (network code capacity allocation) for the market area boundary Switzerland - Trading Hub Europe (THE).
This requested dynamically allocable capacity (DZK) in Southern Germany can be handled independently of the other requests made in this cycle. Therefore, the publication will take place before the other projects. These will be published on 10 August 2020.
In order to provide the full 2 GW of transport capacity requested without obligation, compressor capacity will have to be increased and additional pipeline construction will be necessary. This would involve investment costs of up to 137 million euros.
The draft project is available on the website of the Vereinigung der Fernleitungsnetzbetreiber Gas e.V. (FNB Gas) at www.fnb-gas-capacity.de as a download. Written comments can be submitted to the FNB Gas (info(at)fnb-gas.de) until 20 August 2020.
Following the consultation, the transmission system operators involved shall submit project proposals for incremental capacity to be created to the national regulatory authorities for approval.
13 January 2020 - The German TSO will reschedule the publication and therefore the consultation of the preliminary project proposal in the ongoing incremental capacity cycle
Berlin. The German TSO will reschedule the publication and therefore the consultation of the preliminary project proposal in the ongoing incremental capacity cycle to be published in August 2020. The high number of requests for incremental capacity trigger a wide range of modelling scenarios which require additional time for developing. Based on these modelling scenarios technical studies are compiled which determine reliable statements concerning costs and time schedules amongst others for the according projects.
Although the project proposals will be published and consulted later the overall time schedule for the incremental capacity cycle 2019 – 2021 remains and will conclude with the auctioning of incremental capacity in July 2021.
This procedure was coordinated with the adjacent TSOs as well as the Bundesnetzagentur.
21 October 2019 - Demand assessment for new transport capacities finished according to European guidelines: transmission systems operators publish market demand assessment reports
The German transmission systems operators publish market demand assessment reports according to Article 26 of the EU Regulation 2017/459 (Network Code on Capacity Allocation Mechanisms) determining new transport capacities to be created on the market area borders in the course of the second incremental capacity cycle. For the first time this assessment was carried out for the German nationwide gas market area Trading Hub Europe that is planned to be launched on 1 October 2021.
The reports are available on the FNB Gas Capacity website (www.fnb-gas-capacity.de/en/).
From 1 July to 26 August 2019 market participants had the opportunity to submit their non-binding capacity demands for the market area borders of the nationwide German gas market area. As part of the demand assessment, six market participants submitted 18 requests, partly as request for an upgrade of booked capacity. The possibility to request a capacity product upgrade was offered for the first time by the German transmission systems operators. The requests extend to the year 2047 and relate to the market area borders to Denmark, the Russian Federation, Poland (E-Gas Transmission System), Poland (TGPS), Austria (Tirol), Switzerland and the Netherlands.
The received capacities demand indications were analysed in the published market demand assessment reports to determine the demand for new, incremental transport capacity. As soon as a demand for additional capacity has been determined, the transmissions systems operators will conduct technical studies based on the market demand analysis. These studies consider the existing and planned transport infrastructure at the relevant market area and cross border points as well as the requested capacity demands. The demand analysis should support the execution of future expansion projects for the creation of additional required transport capacity.
1 July 2019 - TSOs initiate second demand assessment for incremental capacity
The auction for yearly capacity products on July 1st carried out on PRISMA indicates the beginning of the second demand assessment phase for incremental capacity according to the regulation (EU) 2017/459 (NC CAM).
Until August 26th Shippers have the possibility to state their non-binding demand indications on the website www.fnb-gas-capacity.de. The TSOs will evaluate the demand indication and initiate the following steps of the incremental capacity process, if necessary.
For the first time it will be possible to upgrade already booked capacity products with the according forms. The demand for product upgrades will be included in the following analysis of the demand indication.
The TSOs want to point out that the demand indication for incremental capacity can only be stated between the newly implemented German market area and neighboring entry-exit systems.
Closure of the procedure for incremental capacity 2017
The fourth phase of the procedure for incremental capacities came to an end with the offer of incremental capacities at the new network point KNOCK on 1 July on the capacity booking platform PRISMA.
Since no binding commitments for incremental capacities were concluded, the procedure ends at this point. No implementation phase will follow.
19 October 2017 - Incremental capacity: German gas TSOs launch first consultation under EU rules
Berlin, 19 October 2017. The German gas transmission system operators (TSOs) publish their proposals for incremental capacity projects for consultation in accordance with Article 27(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/459 (Network Code on Capacity Allocation Mechanisms in Gas Transmission Systems).
In order to fully provide the 26 GW transport capacity requested by shippers in their non-binding demand indications, the available compressor capacity needs to be increased by up to 75 MW. This would imply investments of up to €215m. “With the additional incremental capacity at cross-border and market area interconnection points the TSOs will meet the shippers’ future requirements to gas infrastructure,” comments Inga Posch, managing director of the TSO association FNB Gas (Vereinigung der Fernleitungsnetzbetreiber Gas e.V.).
The project proposals are now available on the FNB Gas website at <link en consultation>www.fnb-gas-capacity.de. Market participants who wish to participate in this consultation are asked to submit their written comments to FNB Gas (info(at)fnb-gas.de) latest until 19 December 2017.
Following the consultation the involved TSOs will submit their incremental capacity project proposal to the relevant national regulatory authorities for approval.
27 July 2017 – Demand assessment for new transport capacities finished according to European guidelines: transmission systems operators publish market demand assessment report
Berlin. The German transmission systems operators are for the first time publishing market demand assessment reports according to Article 26 of the EU Regulation 2017/459 (Network Code on Capacity Allocation Mechanisms) determining new transport capacities to be created on the borders of the market areas of GASPOOL and NCG. The reports are available at the FNB Gas Capacity website (www.fnb-gas-capacity.de).
From 6 April to 1 June 2017 market participants had the opportunity to submit their non-binding capacity demands for market area and cross border points.
As part of the demand assessment, two market participants submitted eight requests. These requests extend to the year 2040 and relate to the market area point between GASPOOL and NCG, and to the cross border points NCG and Austria East, GASPOOL and Poland, GASPOOL and the Russian Federation, and GASPOOL and the Netherlands.
The received capacities demand indications were analysed in the published market demand assessment reports in order to determine the demand for new transport capacity. As soon as a demand for additional capacity has been determined, the transmissions systems operators will create technical studies based on the market demand analysis. These consider the existing and planned transport infrastructure at the relevant market area and cross border points as well as the requested capacity demands. The demand analysis should support the execution of future expansion projects for the creation of additional required transport capacity.
6 April 2017 - German TSOs launch first demand assessment process for incremental transportation capacity in line with EU provisions
Berlin (Germany). The German gas transmission system operators (TSOs) are for the first time launching an incremental capacity process in accordance with European legislation in addition to their planning works surrounding the Gas Network Development Plan. Market participants are invited to submit so-called non-binding demand indications by 1 June 2017 to inform the TSOs of their incremental capacity needs at entry/exit-systems and cross-border interconnection points. Market participants should note that non-binding demand indications for incremental capacity at entry/exit-systems and cross-border interconnection points that were submitted to one or several of the TSOs prior to entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2017/459 (CAM NC) must be re-submitted via the website stated below in order to be considered as part of the new market demand assessment process. This is the case for instance where capacity was sold at an auction premium in the 2017 yearly capacity auction, as auction premiums will not automatically be treated as a specific indication of demand.
The incremental capacity process is a key part of the “CAM NC”, which comes into force on 6 April 2017. “This new tool provides TSOs with a market-based process that enables them to take account of shippers’ requirements as early as possible and to translate them into concrete projects that allow for the existing gas transmission infrastructure to be developed in an economically efficient and sustainable way,” says Inga Posch, managing director of the TSO association FNB Gas, in a statement on this latest development.
A standard form for the submission of non-binding demand indications will be provided on a separate website set up by the TSOs for this purpose. The form will be available at www.fnb-gas-capacity.de along with further information from 6 April 2017.