BEHG
Fuel Emissions Trading Act
The German Fuel Emissions Trading Act (BEHG) introduced the national fuel emissions trading system (nEHS) in 2021, with fixed certificate prices through to 2025. Starting in 2026, allowances under the BEHG will be allocated through an auction process within a price range of €55 to €65 per ton of CO2. The auctions will be conducted via the European Energy Exchange (EEX) and mark the transition from the fixed-price phase to increasingly market-based CO2 pricing, as well as to the future EU ETS 2.
The nEHS covers all CO2-emitting fuels brought onto the market such as heating oil, natural gas, coal and petrol. Entities placing these fuels on the market must participate in the nEHS. They must maintain a compliance account in the nEHS register, prepare and submit an emissions report and monitoring plan to the German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt) as part of their reporting obligations, and procure and decommit emissions certificates.
Registration
Support in creating an account with the German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt)
Account management
Handling of account management & transactions in the nEHS register
Purchasing
Procurement of the certificates on your behalf by VNG Handel & Vertrieb, an officially listed intermediary at the EEX
Reporting
Creation and submission of the emissions report required under the BEHG
A checklist we provide helps you to register simply and easily with the national emissions trading register. By authorising VNG Handel & Vertrieb GmbH to act on your behalf, we can manage your account in a straightforward way and thus take care of all necessary activities concerning certificate transactions. As an officially listed intermediary at the EEX since 2021, we can, at your request, purchase the necessary certificates for you and post these to your account.
Product sheet
A concise overview of key aspects of our BEHG service can be found in our product sheet (German).
Your benefits at a glance
- Always up to date with regulatory developments
- Customised advice and partnership
- Workload reduced and time saved in fulfilling your statutory BEHG obligations
- No need to set up a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) for communication with DEHSt or to register at EEX
- Administration of your compliance account and certificate purchasing are taken care of by VNG Handel & Vertrieb
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+49 341 443-1910
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Questions and Answers on the German Fuel Emissions Trading Act
From compliance obligations and certificate procurement to EU ETS 2: here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about the German Fuel Emissions Trading Act (BEHG) and the future development of CO2 pricing.
The German Fuel Emissions Trading Act (BEHG) governs the national CO2 emissions trading system in Germany and requires companies that place fossil fuels such as natural gas, heating oil, coal, or motor fuels on the market to participate. Affected companies must purchase emissions certificates and monitor, report, and offset their emissions within the national emissions trading system (nEHS).
Companies that place fuels on the market are required under the BEHG to maintain a compliance account in the nEHS, prepare a monitoring plan and annual emissions reports, and submit them to the German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt).
In addition, they are obligated to procure the required CO2 certificates and surrender them within the applicable deadlines. Meeting these requirements calls for structured processes covering reporting, registry management, and certificate procurement.
Under Germany’s national emissions trading system, certificate prices were fixed until 2025. Since 2026, certificates under the BEHG have been allocated through an auction system within a price corridor of €55 to €65 per tonne of CO2. The auction phase marks the transition toward greater market-based price formation and at the same time prepares the shift to the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS 2).
EU ETS 2 is intended to establish a harmonized emissions trading system across Europe for the buildings and road transport sectors. Originally scheduled to start in 2027, the beginning of the trading phase has been postponed to 2028.
For companies, this transition may lead to more volatile and potentially higher CO2 prices in the future, resulting in new requirements for procurement and sales strategies. Early and forward-looking planning can help minimize cost risks and optimize procurement strategies in a timely manner.
VNG Handel & Vertrieb supports companies throughout the entire BEHG process and assists with all key compliance requirements. These services include registration with the DEHSt, management of the compliance account within the nEHS, the procurement and surrender of emissions certificates, and the preparation of the legally required emissions reports.
As an intermediary listed on the EEX since 2021, VNG Handel & Vertrieb can, upon request, procure the required certificates on behalf of its customers.
In addition, VNG Handel & Vertrieb provides ongoing updates on regulatory developments, reminds companies of relevant deadlines, and serves as a dedicated point of contact for questions and challenges related to the BEHG.
By combining in-depth market knowledge, regulatory expertise, and operational support, VNG Handel & Vertrieb helps companies reduce internal administrative effort while ensuring that legal requirements are met efficiently and on time.
Its services are modular in design and can be tailored to each company’s specific needs. This enables businesses to fulfill their obligations under the BEHG in a legally compliant, efficient, and time-saving manner.