Source: Energy & Management Powernews, April 22, 2022
On April 21, the Federal Network Agency launched a data survey of network operators for the "Gas Security Platform" in case gas supplies from Russia fail.
The data survey of gas network operators will run from April 21 to 28, 2022, with the aim of providing the Federal Network Agency with up-to-date data in the event of a significant deterioration in the gas supply situation in Germany or EU member states. "We are preparing intensively for a situation in which the Federal Network Agency has to order supply reductions from major gas consumers," explained the authority's president, Klaus Müller. In such a situation it would be the task of the Federal Network Agency to regulate gas consumption.
The survey of network operators serves as a preparatory step to a further data query of German gas consumers above a size of 10 MWh/h technical connection capacity. The survey of these affected companies is planned for May 2022, the Federal Network Agency said. "At the same time, we are doing everything we can to ensure that this situation does not occur," Müller assured. The results of the survey enabled the Federal Network Agency to assess the consequences of measures for the affected end consumers and for society in the best possible way.
In the medium term, data provision is to take place via a "gas security platform". The final commissioning of the digital safety platform is planned for October 1, 2022. On this would have to register in the future all large gas consumers with a connection capacity of at least 10 MWh/h, gas network operators as well as all balancing group managers, such as gas suppliers or gas traders.
The threshold value of 10 MWh/h covers a large part of the consumers and enables efficient management in the event of a crisis, justified the agency. The security platform is being developed jointly by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK), the Federal Network Agency and Trading Hub Europe (THE),
information on the "Security Platform Gas"is available on the Federal Network Agency's website.
author: Susanne Harmsen