Emissions Trading / Carbon Market News (13/03/2023)

Dear Madam or Sir,

From the beginning of this millennium to 2021, at least 145 billion euros in damage has been caused in connection with climate change, as the German State Secretary for the Environment Christiane Rohleder summed up last week.

The majority of this, amounting to 80 billion euros, only occurred in the four years from 2018 to 2021 and the study puts the damage by the middle of the century at up to 900 billion euros. Added to this is damage that is difficult to measure financially, such as deaths from flooding and heat, as well as severe strain on ecosystems and further loss of biodiversity on our planet.

In order to mitigate this, the climate experts at the German National Academy Leopoldina presented a roadmap last week that is intended to accelerate the path of the economy towards renewable energies. To this end, the scientists have developed six main ideas.

One of the important issues is the completion of the EU emissions trading system EU ETS in the direction of a long-term trading system that includes all emitters as an important control system for compliance with the Paris climate protection agreement negotiated in 2015.

In addition, the technological removal of CO2 from the atmosphere, the expansion of a “green” hydrogen infrastructure, the expansion of digital electricity networks (smart grids), the expansion of renewable energies and a market-compliant and accelerated planning of the energy system conversion are important building blocks in the necessary decarbonization of Europe.

Prices in EU emissions trading system EU ETS have recovered over the past week from the previous week’s profit-taking and buyers have returned, taking the benchmark contract of EU emissions allowances (EUA-Dec-2023) back above 100 euros last Friday – technical driven.

If EUAs sustain above the resistance line of around EUR 100 this trading week, the next key technical resistance would be in the area of just over EUR 105. If this should not succeed, the next relevant support would be in the area around 92 euros.

The Leipzig EEX is auctioning a total of 11,842,500 EUA on all trading days this week. The weekly auctions for German national emission allowances nEZ also take place this Tuesday and Thursday.

  (Average Quotes Exchange / OTC)   
Instrument03/03/2310/03/23Change
EUA (Spot-Market)91.04 EUR98.22 EUR+7.18 EUR 
EUA (December-2023-Future)92.18 EUR99.80 EUR+7.62 EUR 
VER (Natural Carbon Offsets ø)3.45 USD3.52 USD+0.07 USD 
VER (CORISA eligible Carbon Offsets  ø)2.55 USD2.29 USD-0.26 USD 
nEZ (German National Carbon Units)30.00 EUR30.00 EUR+0.00 EUR 
ICE Brent Crude Oil (Benchmark Future)85.98 USD82.66 USD-3.32 USD 
EURO (Currency, Forex)1.0636 USD1.0640 USD+0.0040 USD 

(The average exchange quotes and OTC-prices shows the average between bids and ask of several exchanges and OTC markets for carbon emission rights in the ETS. Bid and ask has usually in Spot Market a visible spread. The VER quotes are average rates (carboncredits.com), which can be used within the framework of CORSIA and voluntary carbon offsetting. Crude Oil and Euro Currency shows day-end-exchange quotes. This market information has just an informational character and are no advice or offer to trade carbon emission rights or their futures and options. If you want to unsubscribe, please reply to this mail.)

Please call our international carbon desk if any further questions exist: +49.2831.1348220.

With kind regards,

ADVANTAG Services GmbH

Emissions Trading / Carbon Market News (06/03/2023)

Dear Madam or Sir,

In many cities around the world, people took to the streets again last Friday to demonstrate for more ambition in the fight against the climate crisis. In Germany alone, there were reportedly more than 200,000 demonstrators. The slogans on the placards demanded, among other things, “Climate protection instead of coal pollution” and “Speed limit now”. Around the globe, hundreds of demonstrations were announced under the slogan #tomorrowistoolate. At the protest in Berlin, Luisa Neubauer criticised the German government and the coal, oil and gas companies with particularly harsh words. The press quoted her as saying: “They had thought they would be able to get away with green words and green speeches – whether parties, Chancellor or corporations. They thought we wouldn’t notice if things went on under the radar, as if we had three more planets lying around on the highway road construction site.” The activist specifically denounced the behaviour of the German party FDP, which was not only blocking the energy transition and the construction transition in the German government, but now also The activist specifically denounced the behaviour of the German party FDP, which was not only blocking the energy transition and the construction transition in the German government, but now also the EU-wide end of the combustion engine.

The following statement is interesting in this context: “In the political discussion, we see the risk that the EU’s clear decision to phase out the internal combustion engine in 2035 will be questioned again. That carries the risk of a deadlock, and that would be fatal for the car industry.” It is remarkable that this statement comes from Audi boss Markus Duesmann, who in an interview with “Der Spiegel” emphasised the need for planning security for the car industry and its investments worth billions.

The positive role that the ETS has in decarbonising the economy, and in particular the high and further increasing price level of European pollution rights, can be seen among other things in the efforts of the large emitters in the steel and chemical sectors. And the pressure will increase even more after the current reform of the ETS. This was underlined, for example, by the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI). A communication to its members in December was entitled: ” Less free certificates and only under conditions”. The association pointed out that the tightening of benchmarks will further reduce free allocations to production plants covered by the EU ETS. In addition, these plants would be obliged to carry out energy audits. If the audit recommendations are not implemented, 20 percent of the allocated free emission certificates would be cancelled in the future. There will also be mandatory decarbonisation plans for the most emission-intensive plants. If the targets in these plans are not met, 20 per cent of the free allocations will also be cancelled.

The market for European pollution rights started the past trading week slightly below the psychologically important €100 mark. This was obviously the starting signal for speculative market participants to reduce their long positions and take profits. European carbon prices subsequently fell time and again during the week, finally recording a weekly loss of 5.4% and falling to their lowest level in more than two weeks. However, this attracted the expected interest from compliance buyers, which slowed the decline on Friday. The benchmark contract closed slightly below a technical support line, which can be interpreted as an indication that the price could also still fall slightly below the 90-euro mark.

Meanwhile, the question of when and how the frontloading of allowances under the REPowerEU plan will be integrated into the auction calendar has begun to take shape. According to leaked information, it appears that the corrections will first be implemented in the calendar in the summer, together with adjustments within the framework of the market stability reserve – in order to avoid multiple adjustments.

  (Average Quotes Exchange / OTC)   
Instrument24/02/2303/03/23Change
EUA (Spot-Market)96.36 EUR91.04 EUR-5.32 EUR 
EUA (December-2023-Future)97.39 EUR92.18 EUR-5.21 EUR 
VCU (Voluntary Carbon Units ø)4.00 USD3.45 USD-0.55 USD 
VER (Gold Standard Spotmarkt ø)2.47 USD2.55 USD+0.08 USD 
nEZ (German National Carbon Units)30.00 EUR30.00 EUR+0.00 EUR 
ICE Brent Crude Oil (Benchmark Future)83.29 USD85.98 USD+2.69 USD 
EURO (Currency, Forex)1.0545 USD1.0636 USD+0.0091 USD 

(The average exchange quotes and OTC-prices shows the average between bids and ask of several exchanges and OTC markets for carbon emission rights in the ETS. Bid and ask has usually in Spot Market a visible spread. The VER quotes are average rates (carboncredits.com), which can be used within the framework of CORSIA and voluntary carbon offsetting. Crude Oil and Euro Currency shows day-end-exchange quotes. This market information has just an informational character and are no advice or offer to trade carbon emission rights or their futures and options. If you want to unsubscribe, please reply to this mail.)

Please call our international carbon desk if any further questions exist: +49.2831.1348220.

With kind regards,

ADVANTAG Services GmbH

Emissions Trading / Carbon Market News (27/02/2023)

Dear Madam or Sir,

Last year, the Federal Republic of Germany auctioned a total of 217 million national emission allowances in accordance with the German Fuel Emissions Trading Act (BEHG) at the Leipzig EEX and thus generated income of around 6.4 billion euros.

The aim of the BEHG is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transport and building sectors, since no reduction in emissions has been recorded here in recent years. It remains to be seen whether this will lead to measurable success in the area of transport and traffic, a speed limit on German autobahns would certainly be easier to implement.

According to the ideas of the EU Parliament, around 45% of the buildings in the building sector should be renovated by 2033. A real estate industry association has calculated that this would mean up to 182 billion euros per year for Germany alone. According to the association, this is illusory, as is the 30% of building renovations proposed by the EU Commission.

From our point of view, the state is called upon to set up new subsidy programs, especially for buildings in administration, in the education and health sector as well as for industry and trade. Because the renovation of an average university hospital alone would be equivalent to the renovation of an entire small town and could be monitored much more easily.

In the European emissions trading EU ETS, the current EUA benchmark contract December 2023 broke through the mark of 100 euros as a benchmark for the first time last Tuesday and was also able to break through into the three-digit range on Wednesday and Friday. On Tuesday, the EUAs also closed above the 100 mark. On Friday, an attempt to stay above the psychological 100 level failed and carbon certificates ended last week’s trading week at 97.39, still up more than 1% on the weekly basis.

It remains to be seen whether the EUAs can continue to follow the previous sideways-up trend, or whether this support line will be broken down for speculative profit-taking. This might be a good time to make compliance purchases for plant operators. In recent years, it has often been the case that prices have tended to be rather bullish until the end of the compliance deadline.

  (Average Quotes Exchange / OTC)   
Instrument17/02/2324/02/23Change
EUA (Spot-Market)95.02 EUR96.36 EUR+1.34 EUR
EUA (December-2023-Future)96.25 EUR97.39 EUR+1.14 EUR
VCU (Voluntary Carbon Units ø)3.28 USD4.00 USD+0.72 USD
VER (Gold Standard Spotmarkt ø)2.17 USD2.47 USD+0.30 USD
nEZ (German National Carbon Units)30.00 EUR30.00 EUR+0.00 EUR
ICE Brent Crude Oil (Benchmark Future)83.00 USD83.29 USD+0.29 USD
EURO (Currency, Forex)1.0694 USD1.0545 USD-0.0149 USD

(The average exchange quotes and OTC-prices shows the average between bids and ask of several exchanges and OTC markets for carbon emission rights in the ETS. Bid and ask has usually in Spot Market a visible spread. The VER quotes are average rates (carboncredits.com), which can be used within the framework of CORSIA and voluntary carbon offsetting. Crude Oil and Euro Currency shows day-end-exchange quotes. This market information has just an informational character and are no advice or offer to trade carbon emission rights or their futures and options. If you want to unsubscribe, please reply to this mail.)

Please call our international carbon desk if any further questions exist: +49.2831.1348220.

With kind regards,

ADVANTAG Services GmbH

Emissions Trading / Carbon Market News (20/02/2023)

Dear Madam or Sir,

Last Tuesday, as part of the “Fit for 55” climate package, the European Parliament decided to end the combustion engine in 2035, despite resistance from the conservative camp. An important reason for this is the goal of reducing CO2 in road traffic by 55% for cars and delivery vans by 50% by 2030. Most manufacturers in Europe have already announced in the past few months that they will no longer produce cars with combustion engines by that time at the latest to produce.

However, it is still unclear whether combustion engines with e-fuels will also be recognized as climate-friendly in the future. From our point of view, this will not make any sense from a purely commercial and physical point of view, since the energy required for production only achieves a fifth of the range of electric cars.

At the same time, however, one must let the charging infrastructure growing much faster, because there are already not enough fast charging stations at peak times, especially on the motorways.

EU allowance prices have gained 3.5% over the past week and peaked at EUR 98.45 (EUA December 2023 futures) on Friday, which was also a new six-month high.

The relatively mild temperatures in large parts of Europe could have a negative impact on price developments in the coming week. On the other hand, it could appear bullish that only 9,166,500 EUAs will be auctioned this week, 2,676,000 fewer than last week. In addition, more purchases will be made in the coming weeks to meet the obligation to surrender, which speculators could also use to bring prices above the 100 Euro mark.

  (Average Quotes Exchange / OTC)   
Instrument10/02/2317/02/23Change
EUA (Spot-Market)91.76 EUR95.02 EUR+3.26 EUR
EUA (December-2023-Future)93.03 EUR96.25 EUR+3.22 EUR
VCU (Voluntary Carbon Units ø)4.05 USD3.28 USD-0.77 USD
VER (Gold Standard Spotmarkt ø)2.37 USD2.17 USD-0.20 USD
nEZ (German National Carbon Units)30.00 EUR30.00 EUR+0.00 EUR
ICE Brent Crude Oil (Benchmark Future)83.90 USD83.00 USD-0.90 USD
EURO (Currency, Forex)1.0677 USD1.0694 USD-0.0017 USD

(The average exchange quotes and OTC-prices shows the average between bids and ask of several exchanges and OTC markets for carbon emission rights in the ETS. Bid and ask has usually in Spot Market a visible spread. The VER quotes are average rates (carboncredits.com), which can be used within the framework of CORSIA and voluntary carbon offsetting. Crude Oil and Euro Currency shows day-end-exchange quotes. This market information has just an informational character and are no advice or offer to trade carbon emission rights or their futures and options. If you want to unsubscribe, please reply to this mail.)

Please call our international carbon desk if any further questions exist: +49.2831.1348220.

With kind regards,

ADVANTAG Services GmbH

Emissions Trading / Carbon Market News (13/02/2023)

Dear Madam or Sir,

As expected, both the EU parliamentary committee and the EU member states have passed the reform of the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS), which is why even more sectors and companies will be subject to the pricing of greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years.

Peter Liese, the responsible rapporteur in the Parliament of the European Union, speaks of a great success, as he announced on Twitter. Now the shipping, road transport and heating sectors are becoming a reality as part of the “Fit for 55” package. The goal here is to surpass the goal of reducing carbon emissions in the priced sectors by half until 2030.

Naturally, the latest steps don’t go far enough for environmental organizations, too far for some branches of industry and economists welcome the expansion of trade to other sectors.

And that’s not to be underestimated in the reform either – the revenue should also reduce the social consequences for low-income households by 65 to 86 billion euros in favour of the climate social fund.

This had no impact on the development of the price of EU emission allowances, as this has already been priced in by the market. The EUAs tended to move sideways and only lost slightly on a weekly closing price basis after the high price gains of the previous weeks.

Insofar as trading continues to be mainly technical this week, the price could move in the rough range between 91 and 98 euros, with the tendency being more sideways-upwards.

During this trading week, a total of 11,842,500 EUAs will be offered for auction on all five trading days at the Leipzig Energy Exchange EEX. Certificates from national emissions trading are also available this week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

  (Average Quotes Exchange / OTC)   
Instrument03/02/2310/02/23Change
EUA (Spot-Market)91.87 EUR91.76 EUR-0.11 EUR
EUA (December-2023-Future)93.29 EUR93.03 EUR-0.26 EUR
VCU (Voluntary Carbon Units ø)2.60 USD4.05 USD+1.45 USD
VER (Gold Standard Spotmarkt ø)2.54 USD2.37 USD-0.17 USD
nEZ (German National Carbon Units)30.00 EUR30.00 EUR+0.00 EUR
ICE Brent Crude Oil (Benchmark Future)79.75 USD83.90 USD+4.15 USD
EURO (Currency, Forex)1.0795 USD1.0677 USD-0.0118 USD

(The average exchange quotes and OTC-prices shows the average between bids and ask of several exchanges and OTC markets for carbon emission rights in the ETS. Bid and ask has usually in Spot Market a visible spread. The VER quotes are average rates (carboncredits.com), which can be used within the framework of CORSIA and voluntary carbon offsetting. Crude Oil and Euro Currency shows day-end-exchange quotes. This market information has just an informational character and are no advice or offer to trade carbon emission rights or their futures and options. If you want to unsubscribe, please reply to this mail.)

Please call our international carbon desk if any further questions exist: +49.2831.1348220.

With kind regards,

ADVANTAG Services GmbH