CO₂ pricing in Europe
What companies should pay attention to now
- Expansion of the EU ETS
- nEHS of the DEHSt
- Rising CO₂ prices
The CO₂ emissions of companies are currently priced in 19 countries of the European Union. For these National CO₂ pricing There are various models that all aim to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels such as petrol, diesel, heating oil, liquid gas, natural gas, coal and, in some cases, biomass by increasing prices. So far, the energy sector and some branches of industry such as steel, chemical and cement plants as well as aviation and shipping have been particularly affected. Overall, this will 36 % of all CO₂ emissions in the EU priced. More 45 % covers the European EU ETS (European Union Emissions Trading System). Around 11,000 European companies are required to participate. In Germany, this currently includes around 1,400 large or energy-intensive companies. The national and European CO₂ pricing systems are being further expanded with the aim of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
CO₂ pricing through the EU ETS
The EU ETS is a Emissions control instrument according to the "cap and trade" system, under which the EU sets the annual CO₂ emission volumes and thus the number of all certificates for trading. The CO₂ certificates are therefore always limited and no new certificates can be generated by companies. Operators of photovoltaic, wind or hydroelectric power plants therefore do not receive any certificates that they can sell on the exchange. Each certificate entitles the holder to emit one tonne of CO₂ equivalent. At the end of the year, greenhouse gas emitters must present certificates equivalent to their emissions. Companies can buy additional certificates they need on an exchange or sell surplus certificates to other polluters.
For companies with low CO₂ avoidance costs, for example, it makes sense to sell too many purchased/allocated certificates on the market. On the other hand, companies whose costs to avoid one tonne of CO₂ exceed the price of a certificate can buy additional certificates on the market. The prices of CO₂ certificates are currently average of 86 euros in the EU ETS. At present, some of them are still being issued to companies free of charge. These free allocations will be completely phased out by 2030. dismantled and the total number of CO₂ allowances will increase in the same period. reduced by 62 %, so that prices continue to rise. In addition, a second European ETS is planned for 2027, which will cover the transport and building sectors and replace the national regulations for CO₂ pricing in these sectors.
National models for CO₂ pricing
The national models for CO₂ pricing within the European member states and Europe can be roughly divided into two different groups: Emissions trading systems modeled on the EU ETS or CO₂ taxes. Both pricing models exclude companies that are already covered by the EU ETS. CO₂ taxes exist in Sweden, Finland, Poland, Denmark, Latvia, Ireland, Spain, Portugal and other countries, for example. However, they still vary considerably. The planned Dutch CO₂ tax, for example, is set to rise to 125 euros per ton will rise. In Sweden, where the tax was introduced in 1990, the price for emitting one tonne of CO₂ is already at a similar level. The lowest tax rate in Europe is currently levied in Estonia. Certificate trading systems are about to be introduced in Germany and Austria, for example, and mixed forms are being debated in France and the UK. According to the EU's plans 85 % of all CO₂ emissions priced by 2027.
Example: Germany's nEHS
In Germany, the national emissions trading system (nEHS) of the DEHSt (German Emissions Trading Authority) was set up for CO₂ pricing. Companies are first classified and then assigned to either the EU ETS or the DEHSt. The criteria for this allocation are constantly adapted to the EU's annual CO₂ emission targets in stages. In the process, there are always New industries and the Energy consumption quantities or company key figures are constantly being readjusted. The entire system is based on the Fuel Emissions Trading Act (BEHG), which stipulates that CO₂ emissions from the use of fossil fuels must be covered by emission certificates.
The DEHSt has so far intervened for the sectors not covered by the EU ETS, i.e. for Traffic, buildings and Agriculture. An nEHS certificate must be surrendered for every tonne of CO₂ released during the combustion of fossil fuels. These allowances are still allocated freely according to a distribution key or a company purchases them from DEHSt. Companies must surrender their allocated or purchased allowances for cancellation by 30 September of the following year. If they do not have sufficient certificates in their BEHG trading have acquired, is a Penalty payment in the amount of twice the certificate price due. As in Austria, prices are still capped and currently stand at EUR 55 in Germany. From 2026, the certificates will be auctioned in a price corridor of EUR 55 to 65 before being traded completely openly from 2027.
Medium and long-term CO₂ pricing
Even if not many companies are yet affected by the EU ETS, the European emissions trading system will probably remain the sharpest sword in CO₂ pricing. Scientists from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research calculated in their latest Studythat CO₂ prices per tonne of 200 to 300 euros are realistic as early as 2030 and 400 euros in 2040, provided there is no political intervention through funding or subsidy programs. In the medium and long term, all national CO₂ pricing models will also be based on a significantly higher CO₂ price level off. The course has already been set in the BECV (Carbon Leakage Regulation) and thus EU imports of CO₂-intensive product groups will not be favored in the future, the European CO₂ boundary compensation system CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism).
Erneuerbare Energien & Effizienzmaßnahmen entlasten Unternehmen
All CO₂ pricing measures pursue the goal of making energy from fossil fuels more expensive and promoting energy from photovoltaics, wind or hydropower. The energy transition therefore has far-reaching consequences for companies and they should act now to counteract uncontrollable and exploding energy prices. The use of renewable energies and efficiency measures can already save Reduce costs. Companies with PV, wind or hydropower plants have to purchase smaller quantities of electricity and therefore require fewer CO₂ certificates.
You will receive a Feed-in tariffwhen they feed the emission-free electricity into the public grid at weekends and benefit from trading the Guarantees of origin (HKN) for the green electricity fed into the grid. The political debate is currently also focusing on whether HKNs should be issued for self-used PV electricity and whether PV systems should be recognized as "energy efficiency measures". This would have the advantage that companies could expect further privileges such as electricity tax reductions, levy or fee reductions. In any case PV systems contribute to CO₂ reduction and facilitate the introduction of an energy management system enormously, as they reduce a company's overall energy consumption in advance. The objectives for certifications such as ISO 50001, EMAS or with Energy audits are much easier to achieve. They can also obtain certificates for the voluntary CO₂ compensation generate.