Auctioning of emission allowances during the trading period 2013–2020

Since the beginning of 2013, auctioning has been the default method of allocating emission allowances. Approximately more than 50% of EU Allowances will be auctioned during the trading period 2013–2020 .

 24 EU Member States’ auctionable allowances are sold at  a common auctioning platform. Germany, the United Kingdom and Poland have elected to organise their own auctions, known as opt-out auctions.

Operators in the EU Emissions Trading System, investment firms and other eligible actors under the EU Auctioning Regulation (2010/1031/EU) may do so at any auction organised.

The Leipzig-based European Energy Exchange EEX has been appointed as the common auction platform. EEX holds auctions three times a week. Opt-out auctions are also held weekly. Auction calendars are confirmed annually, for one calendar year at a time.

Auctions are held completely online, with English as the interface language. The auctioning method is the single-round, sealed-bid auction. Bidders submit their proposals unaware of the bids of others, and the auction clearing price is determined by the lowest bid. All winning bidders will ultimately pay an equal price for their allowances.

Emission allowances are auctioned in lots of 500 or 1,000 allowances. The clearing of the transaction and the transfer of allowances to the buyer’s account take place within two to five days from the end of the auction, depending on the product.

The Energy Authority has been appointed as the auctioneer in Finland. 

Further information: mikko.paloneva(at)tem.fi, timo.ritonummi(at)tem.fi