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Setting the course for the energy future: current status of the consultation on the LTiP and CNDPThe Long-Term and Integrated Planning (LTiP) is the designated planning tool for the distribution network. Based on this legal framework, AGGM, as the market and distribution area manager, collaborates with gas and electricity network operators to plan gas infrastructure using an integrated approach that considers all energy sectors. The Coordinated Network Development Plan (CNDP), on the other hand, serves as the planning instrument for Austria’s transmission pipelines. This plan is jointly developed by TAG GmbH, Gas Connect Austria, and AGGM. The 51 projects in LTiP (including 25 replacement investment projects) and the 35 projects in CNDP (including 26 replacement investments) ensure a reliable gas transport capacity for methane while maintaining security of supply and the safe operation of the gas infrastructure in Austria. Additionally, these plans set the foundation for the future energy transition and the efficient transformation of the energy system. Both network development plans create and maintain the necessary gas transport infrastructure, which is essential for a successful energy transition. A full decarbonization of Austria’s energy system is not feasible without a functioning and high-performance gas infrastructure. In order to be able to take future developments into account in the planning of the gas network, the H2 roadmap has also been revised. By knowing exactly where hydrogen consumption and production sites will be located in the future, an optimized development path for the gas network can be identified, which, on the one hand, enables:
These projects will significantly increase import capacities from Germany and Italy, ensuring the diversification of supply routes from 2027 onwards. For the first time, the need for hydrogen storage capacity has been included in the planning process (see Chapter 2.7.1.3). This involves the scaling up of underground H₂ storage facilities in Upper Austria. To meet these needs, the LTiP project “H2 Startnetz OÖ” has been developed. To specifically support the goal of climate neutrality by 2040 through energy savings and CO2 reduction in accordance with the GWG a LTiP project for CO2-free gas preheating using a heat pump and expansion turbine (for power generation from pressure relaxation) was developed and submitted. This concept can thus save approximately 2 GWh/a of gas and avoid approximately 650 t/a of CO2 emissions. In addition, approximately 1 GWh/a of surplus electricity can be generated. In addition to these energy savings and CO2 reductions, this concept also has a better economic viability than a conventional gas boiler after just 10 years. The LTiP and the CNDP are currently being reviewed by E-Control. We hope to have the submitted projects approved in the coming weeks. More information about the infrastructure plans can be found at https://www.aggm.at/en/gasgrid/network-planning/ |
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