In preparation for developing the scenario frameworks for the 2027 Electricity as well as Gas and Hydrogen Network Development Plans, the electricity transmission system operators (ÜNB), the gas transmission system operators (FNB), and the hydrogen transport network operators (WTNB) will jointly conduct a market survey from 3 February 2026 to 13 March 2026 on infrastructure needs for electricity and hydrogen among existing and potential customers. For this survey, the network operators have further developed the web applications used for the previous joint market survey in 2024.
Under the German Energy Industry Act, the ÜNB, FNB, and WTNB are responsible for preparing the Network Development Plans (NEP) for electricity, gas, and hydrogen. At the beginning of each NEP, scenario frameworks are defined, with national energy and climate policy objectives as well as concrete needs playing a decisive role. The extensive transformation of the energy landscape is leading to numerous new projects, consumers, producers, and storage facilities. To provide these stakeholders with planning certainty regarding future energy supply, it is essential that network operators understand the sector’s specific needs.
The survey on infrastructure requirements for electricity and hydrogen aims to establish an appropriate planning basis for the development of Germany’s energy infrastructures. For consistent infrastructure planning across both sectors, harmonized planning data for power‑to‑gas plants >10 MWel and hydrogen power plants are particularly important. In addition, the transmission and pipeline network operators will use the market survey to collect information on other connection customers that are linked to only one of the two infrastructures. For the electricity transmission operators, this includes large battery storage systems, data centers, power‑to‑heat plants, and planned load increases at industrial sites (each with a connection capacity of at least 10 MWel). The gas transmission operators will also record hydrogen storage facilities and hydrogen consumers with an offtake capacity of at least 20 MWth.
The network operators will offer a joint public webinar on 12 February from 10:00 to 12:00 to answer questions from market participants and distribution system operators. Registration will be possible from 3 February via the platform for reporting infrastructure needs.
Market participants are invited to submit their requirements by 13 March 2026 at https://infrastrukturbedarf-abfrage-nep.de/. By taking part in the market survey, respondents support integrated infrastructure planning for the energy system of the future.
