What changed in 2023?

In 2023, the second year of GHG premiums began, following important lessons learned from the first year. There were two significant changes in particular: Firstly, the regulation was amended to establish further provisions for greenhouse gas reduction in fuels. Secondly, the amount of the achievable GHG premium was adjusted. 

Second ordinance                                                                                                                                                                                     

On the 29^th of July 2023, the second ordinance amending the Ordinance on Further Provisions for the Reduction of Greenhouse Gases from Fuels and the Amount of the GHG Premium to be Achieved came into force. 

In particular, this has changed 

•  The submission deadline for e-vehicles, which was previously February 28 of the following year. With the new regulation, the deadline was shortened to November 15 of the respective quota year. 

• Previously, two-wheelers could also be submitted to the Federal Environment Agency through a voluntary authorisation in order to receive the resulting GHG premium. This was closed for the time being with the second regulation. Two-wheelers without a registration can only receive the GHG premium if they have a published estimated value. However, no such estimated value was announced in the 2023 quota year. In this blog post you will find an overview of the two-wheelers that are still eligible  

Amount of the premium                                                                                                                   

Following the successful launch of the GHG premium in 2022 and GHG premiums of €300 to €400, the GHG premium fell steadily in the 2023 quota year, influenced by supply and demand, alternatives to GHG trading and the dirtier electricity mix. 

The energy generation reference value, determined on the basis of the 2021 electricity mix, amounted to 135 kg CO2 equivalent and this meant a CO2 emissions saving of only 703 kg CO2 savings compared to 2022 (862 kg CO2 savings). E-vehicles no longer saved as much CO2 in 2023 as in the previous year. As oil companies now need more vehicles to meet their CO2 reduction obligations, the price of GHG certificates fell and thereby the GHG premium. The interplay of all factors led to the price falling. 

We are now looking ahead to the 2024 quota year with great hope and faith in a greener and more sustainable world.