Operators

In Austria, about 200 energy-intensive industrial installations are obliged to participate in emissions trading. The sectors concerned include power supply (power plants, district heating plants, refineries), the iron and steel industry, cement and other mineral industries, the paper industry and other installations in sectors such as the chemical industry and particle board manufacturing. Every year, on or before 28th February, the operators of these installations receive allowances from the competent authority (Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management) authorising them to emit one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent per allowance.

The number of allowances allocated to the companies is stipulated in the National Allocation Plan. Allowances are held in accounts in the registry. Emissions from installations are calculated after the end of the calendar year, verified by an independent verifier and entered into the registry by 31 March for the previous year. For verified emissions, allowances must be surrendered by the following 30 April. If verified emissions exceed the number of allocated allowances the company may buy further allowances via emissions trading.

Allowances may be traded within the European Union. From 2008 onwards also international trading will be possible. Links to the registries of other EU countries can be found on the website of the Community Independent Transaction Log (CITL) of the European Commission. Trading takes place OTC (over the counter) or at an exchange – e.g. EXAA (Energy Exchange Austria). To be able to open an account in the registry, the company must have a permit for the installation according to the Austrian Act on Emissions Certificate Trading (Emissionszertifikategesetz -EZG) and nominate a verifier. Further details regarding the opening of an account can be found in the FAQs.