Custom hydrogen transport and connection contracts available

Hynetwork Services and the representative organisations VEMW (end users) and Energie-Nederland (producers and shippers) then launched a trialogue table in late 2022. The aim was to arrive at a balanced contract set of rights and obligations for the grid operator and grid users and to reach agreements on both (conditions for) access and use of the system (introduction of a virtual trading point, availability of pipeline flexibility (PFS), etc.). Not included are tariff setting and hydrogen quality as these are set by the legislator (Ministry of Economic Affairs).

The outcome of the trialogue process is a modified contract set called version 1.0. This 1.0 version does not mean the end of the development process of this contract set, nor that agreement has been reached on all points. For instance, the interpretation of the liability provisions, the distribution of pipeline flexibility and maintenance (duration and frequency) still deserve attention and new issues may still come up. Hynetwork Services and the other trialogue parties are now in discussions with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and regulator ACM on a process to give the ACM a role in dispute resolution.

Energie-Nederland and VEMW have noted that the model agreements in version 1.0 for this phase in the development of the grid have become more balanced in the regulation of rights and obligations of the grid operator and grid users towards each other. They were reached in constructive consultations based on a dialogue in which parties respected each other's position. This version provides insight into the current state of affairs. We will continue to develop the contract set in 2024. Maaike Broersma of Hynetwork Services: 'I am pleased that the 1.0 version of the contract set is online to enable our customers to take the next steps in the development of the hydrogen market with us.'