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Ten Year Network Development Plan 2015 |
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2.1 Introduction
The completion of the European Internal Energy Market
is intended to deliver secure, competitive and sustaina-
ble energy for every gas consumer. The development of
gas infrastructures, together with the implementation
of harmonized business rules are necessary steps in
that direction.
Since the last edition of the TYNDP some projects have been commissioned, others
suspended and new ones have appeared. Their number remains very high illustrat-
ing the fact that the gas industry has identified projects that would benefit the
completion of the European market.
In this perspective the TYNDP intends to provide transparent and thorough informa-
tion to decision makers, although the inclusion of projects within the TYNDP does
not make it legally binding for those projects to be developed. This information
covers basic technical data, the status of infrastructure projects and the overall im-
pact of projects along the pillars of the European Energy policy. With the entry into
force of the TEN-E Regulation, the role of TYNDP has significantly increased as all
PCI candidate projects must be included within it ahead of the PCI selection process.
The TYNDP must also provide a basic assessment that will be factored into the
further steps.
2.2 Gas infrastructures and
European energy policy
European gas infrastructures already ensure a high level
of market integration in many parts of Europe. Further
development is necessary in order to ensure that such
integration will cover the whole European system and
will be maintained in the long term.
The Third Energy Package should ensure a sound climate for a market-based
development of gas infrastructures. However the timing of its implementation, the
economic crisis and the uncertainty of gas demand in the medium and long term
have hampered the delivery of all necessary investments. In that context the
TEN-E Regulation aims to facilitate the delivery of key infrastructures.
In that respect new infrastructure projects may contribute through additional flexi-
bility and diversification of gas supply sources or routes. As a result, both competi-
tion and security of supply should increase. Regarding the sustainability pillar of the
EU Energy Policy gas infrastructures already offer a flexible system able to support
the development of renewable energies. These infrastructures can transport a low
carbon fuel to support the development of intermittent renewable power production
and enable a large scale injection of synthetic gas (biogas or power-to-gas). It will
also bring to the electricity industry the advantage of energy storability. Nevertheless
the current setting of gas, coal and CO ² prices endangers thi capital on the medium
term.