Abel Enríquez, Manager of European Affairs and Organizations at Enagás, has been appointed Director of the European Network of Network Operators for Hydrogen (ENNOH). This key appointment strengthens Enagás’ leadership in the European hydrogen sector.

To prepare for the start of the European operator network in the second half of 2025, the Constituent General Assembly of this association has been created, which approved this appointment and elected Christoph vom dem Bussche, CEO of the German transporter GASCADE, as President.

ENNOH will have a 17-member Board, with Enagás’ Hydrogen Infrastructure subsidiary, dedicated to the development, construction, and operation of hydrogen transport and storage infrastructures, represented by Luis Ignacio Parada, Director of EU Energy Policy and Regulation at Enagás.

Created by European legislative mandate, ENNOH’s primary mission will be to promote the development and proper functioning of the internal hydrogen market and facilitate cross-border flows. The association will focus on ensuring optimal management, coordinated operation, and proper technical evolution of the future European hydrogen transport network.

ENNOH’s functions and tasks are outlined in the European Hydrogen and Gas Market Decarbonization Package, which includes Directive (EU) 2024/1788 and Regulation (EU) 2024/1789 from May 2024, published in the EU Official Journal (DOUE) on July 15.

Hydrogen Infrastructure Development

ENNOH is tasked with developing the Ten-Year Network Development Plans (TYNDP), which will include all related infrastructure developments. It will closely cooperate with the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSOE) and the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG) to identify synergies, promote sector integration, achieve cost-efficient decarbonization of the European energy system, and help meet EU energy and climate objectives.

Market rules, network codes, and the development of technical recommendations in multiple areas to ensure the efficient operation of the future European hydrogen system are additional responsibilities of the future body.

Profiles

With more than 20 years of professional experience, Abel Enríquez was previously Manager of European Affairs and Organizations at Enagás. He specializes in the functioning of the EU, European legislative developments, and gas/hydrogen sector regulation.

He has worked in Brussels for over 15 years and is co-chair of the Clean Hydrogen Transport and Distribution Roundtable of the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance. He was previously the Secretary General of Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) and has held various executive roles in European organizations.

Luis Ignacio Parada, Director of EU Energy Policy and Regulation at Enagás, has held various leadership positions in the European energy sector. With 25 years of experience in the energy industry, he specializes in gas and hydrogen regulation and energy policy.

This Enagás executive has been actively involved in various industry organizations and is currently a board member of ENTSOG, EASEE-gas, and GIE. Since early 2024, he has also held the presidency of the LNG terminal operators column (GLE) within GIE.