eDelivery and ENTSOG

The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG) was established in 2009 and plays a pivotal role in coordinating gas transmission operators across the 27 EU Member States. The organisation was founded on Regulation 715/2009, which outlines its responsibilities in promoting transparency and interoperability within the internal gas market. ENTSOG unites Europe’s gas transmission operators to ensure a secure, efficient, and integrated gas market. Its mission includes enhancing cooperation, transparency, and reliable cross-border gas supply while promoting low-carbon energy with gases like hydrogen and biomethane.

ENTSOG and eDelivery 

To support secure communication and document exchange between these operators, ENTSOG developed and maintains a specialised AS4 usage profile tailored to the gas sector's unique needs. This profile, mandated by further legislation in 2015, specifies the use of the AS4 protocol for secure, standardised data exchange among transmission system operators (TSOs). While fully aligned with the eDelivery AS4 profile, the ENTSOG version includes specific configurations to meet the requirements of gas transmission operations, ensuring seamless integration and interoperability within the sector.

ENTSOG and eDelivery collaborate closely together, ensuring ongoing alignment in their use of the AS4 protocol. This approach highlights the advantages of using a common protocol across different domains, including enhanced security, reduced vendor lock-in, and streamlined interoperability. 

Following the newly adopted eDelivery AS4 profile 2.0, ENTSOG is preparing to release a new version of its own AS4 usage profile in 2025

ENTSOG’s Upcoming AS4 Usage Profile ENTSOG and eDelivery

On 29–30 October 2024, ENTSOG hosted a workshop on Data Exchange and Cybersecurity in Brussels, bringing together experts and stakeholders to explore the latest updates, opportunities, and challenges in the energy sector. You can learn more about the event here.

One of the topics discussed was data exchange syntax and the modernisation of the cryptography used in the AS4 profile, focusing on the benefits and challenges of its rollout. The eDelivery team was invited to present the recent security updates to the eDelivery AS4 profile, providing insights into the rationale behind these changes and explaining why corresponding updates are welcome in the ENTSOG AS4 profile.

Bogdan Dumitriu, the eDelivery project officer working for the European Commission, underscored that the primary motivation for these changes was following expert advice to stay up to date with technological advancements in cybersecurity. As cryptography and its use for internet security continue to evolve, it is crucial to align with state-of-the-art security mechanisms.

It was emphasised that while the current eDelivery profile remains secure, newer cryptographic standards, specifically elliptic curve cryptography, have now become the industry norm in modern applications and protocols. This necessitated the introduction of new algorithms and key types based on elliptic curve cryptography into the updated eDelivery profile. 

Following its own process, ENTSOG is mirroring these security upgrades in its own profile. By adopting these advancements in close collaboration with eDelivery, ENTSOG not only ensures its systems are resilient to threats and future-ready, but also sets the scene for its members to be able to use eDelivery AS4 conformant products. 

eDelivery Building Block

eDelivery is a Building Block provided by the European Commission, offering technical specifications, installable software and services for secure digital data exchange across a network of nodes.

The eDelivery specifications include the eDelivery AS4 profile, an open technical specification ensuring secure, payload-agnostic and reliable data exchange; the eDelivery SMP profile, designed for publishing service metadata within a 4-corner network; the eDelivery BDXL profile, which enables locating Access Points within the network; and the eDelivery ebCore Party ID profile, a technical specification for the recommended notation for party addressing.

Stay tuned for the latest updates on eDelivery services by checking the Building Block's X and web page. For more information, do not hesitate to register for personalised news or contact us via our portal or by email: EC-EDELIVERY-SUPPORT@ec.europa.eu.