Germany to charge fixed fee for hydrogen infrastructure use

Germany’s network regulator proposed on Wednesday a fixed annual fee of €25 ($27) per kilowatt-hour for access to the country’s planned hydrogen network, aiming to fund infrastructure for the energy transition fuel.

The core hydrogen network, set for completion by 2037, will span 9,700 km and cost around €20 billion, with 60 per cent repurposed from existing gas pipelines.

The fee is designed to offset high startup costs while remaining low enough to attract industrial users in sectors like steel and chemicals.

The Federal Network Agency expects revenue shortfalls initially but foresees surplus income as usage rises.

The fee, in place until 2055, will be adjusted for inflation and reviewed every three years. The agency is also exploring flexible pricing options, including short-term bookings and storage-related discounts.

Attribution: Reuters
Subediting: M. S. Salama