“CO2 pricing in the buildings and transport sectors is a key component for achieving Germany's climate protection goals in these areas,” says UBAPresident Dirk Messner. “Last year, revenues in this sector amounted to around EUR 13 billion. These funds were channelled through the Climate and Transformation Fund of the Federal Government into programmes for decarbonisation and climate action, such as energy-efficient building renovation, industrial decarbonisation, and the expansion of renewable energy, electromobility and charging infrastructure.”
Since 2021, nETS allowances have already been sold at fixed prices on the EEX. In the first year, the price was EUR 25 and has since risen gradually to the current EUR 55. In 2026, the system will transition to auctions within a price corridor, with a minimum price of EUR 55 and a maximum price of EUR 65. In September 2025, the Federal Government set out the framework for sales from 2026 in an amendment to the Fuel Emissions Trading Ordinance (BEHV).
Participants in the nETS are the fuel distributors for the market, such as gas suppliers or companies in the petroleum industry. These companies must now prepare for the auction process.
“With the award to the Leipzig-based energy exchange, EEX, the conditions for a transition from a fixed price to an auction procedure in 2026 have now been established. We will largely rely on proven procedures and infrastructure,” says Christoph Kühleis, interim Head of the German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt) at the UBA. “The auction process essentially corresponds to the system that will be applied from 2027 in the auctions under the new European Emissions Trading System for fuels, also known as the EU ETS 2. This will enable participating companies to transition smoothly into the EU ETS 2 in the future.”
As the authority responsible for implementing the nETS, the UBA put this mandate out to EU-wide tender. The EEX mandate covers the sale (auctions and fixed-price sales) of nETS allowances from 2026 onward. The energy exchange will begin preparations to conduct the auctions immediately. According to current planning, the auctions are scheduled to start in July 2026. If an earlier start is possible, this will be announced in good time. EEX will publish information on how to be admitted into the auctions shortly. From 2027, the nETS will largely be replaced by the new EU ETS 2.
Further Information:
Key information for sales at EEX
At least once auction of 2026 nETS emission allowances is expected to take place per week between July and October 2026 at the latest, within a price corridor of EUR 55 to EUR 65. Thereafter, fixed-price sales at EUR 68 per nETS allowance will run until early December. These fixed-price sales correspond to the procedure used during the fixed-price phase from 2021 to 2025. A calendar containing all auction and sale dates for the coming year will be published by EEX at least two months before the start of the auctions. Until the end of August 2027, it will be possible to buy back 2026 nETS allowances at EUR 70 each, but limited to ten percent of the quantity purchased in 2026. A transaction fee of EUR 0.0059 (EUR 0.0070 including VAT, where applicable) will apply per purchased emission allowance. This net amount corresponds to less than 0.01 percent of the upper end of the price corridor for nETS allowances.
Information on admission at EEX
Fuel distributors on the market and other persons eligible for admission under the Fuel Emissions Trading Act (BEHG) will be able to submit an application for admission to EEX shortly. EEX will publish the admission requirements on its website in a timely and transparent manner. Participants already admitted to trading and clearing at EEX/ECC and who have taken part in fixed-price sales in the nETS will, as a rule, be admitted to the auctions automatically. For participants who have so far exclusively taken part in nETS sales outside the regulated market and are not yet admitted to EEX’s regulated market, a separate admission to the auctions is required due to market regulatory requirements. From around November 2026, all participants already approved for the fixed-price phase will be able to continue to take part in the sales without reapplying for admission. In addition to participating directly in the auctions and sales, there is also the option to purchase nETS allowances through another approved participant (a broker or intermediary). Admission to EEX is therefore not mandatory.
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