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(Inter)national emissions trading

Extensive expertise in the (inter)national field

Emissions trading and relief options

The main climate target is a gradual reduction in emissions to net zero by 2050, with CO2 pricing via emissions trading being a key lever for achieving the statutory climate targets.

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The revenue from carbon pricing is to be used primarily to actively support the climate-neutral transformation in terms of social and economic policy.

Companies in the EU that generate electricity or heat from coal, natural gas or oil and whose plants have a heat output of more than 20 megawatts are affected by international emissions trading. Energy producers as well as industrial companies and SMEs that operate energy-intensive plants, such as steel producers, refineries, paper manufacturers or cement works, are therefore subject to the regulations of the EU-wide emissions trading system (EU ETS). In Germany, the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Act (TEHG) provides the legal framework for trading allowances for the emission of greenhouse gases in the EU ETS. Since the beginning of 2021, the German BEHG has also obliged many German companies to purchase separate pollution rights.

Manufacturers of products that face particular international competition and are burdened by emissions trading are given special protection. Relief regulations exist for them in the form of so-called electricity price compensation and through the BEHG Carbon Leakage Ordinance (BECV).

We support you with the following services

  • Advice on questions regarding the eligibility to apply for relief through to optimisation
  • We examine the application for aid for indirect CO2 costs (electricity price compensation). By carrying out an in-process audit at a very early stage of the application, the application design can be continuously harmonised with the official requirements by means of suitable review procedures.
  • Verification of the notification as part of the application for offsetting in accordance with § 11 (3) BEHG in conjunction with the BECV as proof to the German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt)
  • Certification of information on emissions of the entire company or individual products, e.g. in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP)