Meeting European climate goals will require a stark contraction in fossil gas use. Despite the substantial implications for gas grid users and infrastructure, current grid planning in most EU Member States does not adequately reflect this new reality. This misalignment poses a substantial barrier to the transition towards a sustainable energy system and underscores the need for more holistic planning. This study provides comprehensive information on the current state of the gas grid, its development, and the regulatory framework in selected European countries, and identifies current regulatory barriers for the phase-out of fossil gas. It concludes with recommendations on how Member States could better align energy infrastructure planning with the attainment of national and EU climate targets.
Paper was jointly developed by the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) and Oeko-Institut.
