Three Questions to Dr Sebastian Kemper, Trading Hub Europe

With the appointment of Trading Hub Europe (THE) as the market area manager for hydrogen, the market organisation of the energy transition has reached another important milestone. In this interview, we speak with Sebastian Kemper, Managing Director of THE, about the role THE will play in the future hydrogen market and what this means for network operators and market participants.

1. THE has been the market area manager (MGV) since December – what does that mean in concrete terms for the German gas market and the future hydrogen market?
   
   First of all, we would like to emphasize that we are very pleased to have also been appointed as hydrogen MGV. We will leverage our many years of experience to good effect in our new hydrogen-related responsibilities and work together with all market participants to ensure efficient implementation. At the same time, our role as gas MGV will continue to be carried out in full and with the same level of efficiency.
   
2. As the molecule shifts in the future from natural gas to hydrogen: what will stay the same, and what will change?
   
   Some things will remain the same, while others will change—exactly how will become clear in the coming months. The structures of the gas market provide an important foundation for building the future hydrogen market. However, we are already seeing significant differences, whether organizational, such as the establishment of a central data hub, or procedural, for example in 15-minute balancing or the causer/helper model for balancing energy allocation.
   
3. What are the next steps now—for THE, network operators, and market participants?
   
   Since the end of 2025, we have been consistently advancing preparations to implement the requirements of the hydrogen regulations. In this context, we are working—similar to the gas sector—within the BDEW framework to develop a hydrogen network access code (KoV). In addition, for several weeks now, we have been working in groups together with hydrogen core network operators to develop guidelines for the regulated hydrogen market. Of course, involving all other market participants is essential, which is why we launched an open market dialogue in April to provide transparent information to interested stakeholders and to promote exchange. Also in April, the tender for the future central data exchange platform (data hub) was published, which will play a key role in communication and transaction processing in the hydrogen market going forward. These and other topics will continue to occupy us intensively in the months ahead.