EU Gas Regulation

Regulation (EU) 2024/1789 establishes an updated framework for the internal markets for renewable gas, natural gas and hydrogen, replacing the former EU Gas Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 715/2009). It aims to accelerate the EU’s transition toward a decarbonised energy system by facilitating the integration of renewable and low‑carbon gases, including biomethane and hydrogen, into existing markets. The Regulation introduces fair and transparent access rules for gas, LNG, and hydrogen infrastructure, strengthens market functioning, and supports demand aggregation and joint purchasing mechanisms to improve supply security, particularly in response to recent gas supply crises.

It also establishes a dedicated regulatory framework for hydrogen networks, defining rules for network access, cross‑border interoperability, and long‑term infrastructure planning. Key targets include enabling renewable gas deployment, fostering a competitive hydrogen market, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving resilience of the EU’s energy system. The Regulation is part of the Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Market Package and supports the EU’s climate objectives of reducing emissions by 55% by 2030 and achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

Relevance to bio-waste and/or circular bioeconomy:

The Regulation promotes the integration of renewable gases such as biomethane, produced from bio-waste, into EU gas networks, supporting circular bioeconomy principles. By enabling fair access and encouraging infrastructure conversion, it helps scale bio-waste‑derived gas production and injection, strengthening markets for renewable gases and enhancing their role in replacing fossil fuel use across sectors.

 EU (EEA relevance)

Full title: Regulation (EU) 2024/1789 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on the internal markets for renewable gas, natural gas and hydrogen, amending Regulations (EU) No 1227/2011, (EU) 2017/1938, (EU) 2019/942 and (EU) 2022/869 and Decision (EU) 2017/684 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 (recast) (Text with EEA relevance)

Publication date: 2024

Instrument type: Regulation

Binding for EU MS: Yes

Keywords: renewable gas, natural gas, hydrogen, biomethane, energy transition, gas infrastructure, market integration, decarbonisation, network access