The greenhouse gas emissions trading system aims to induce large companies to pollute less, by setting a cap on the emissions of certain pollutants such as carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxide (N2O) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs).
Industries that emit these substances can receive free emission quotas – “carbon credits” equivalent to “rights to pollute”. A quota corresponds to the authorization to emit an equivalent ton of CO2.
Companies can buy shares on the ETS market, as if they were a stock or any other financial asset offered for sale by other companies that have polluted less and therefore have not used their rights.
The overall amount of allowances available for industries decreases over time, effectively imposing a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, in particular, by 2030, the mechanism will guarantee a decline of 43% compared to 2005 levels.
All the organizations included in the field of application of the ETS directive, whose plants reach the thermal power threshold of 20 MWt and the production capacity foreseen for the specific activity carried out.
For the purpose of verifying that the capacity threshold of 20 MWt has been reached, units with a rated thermal power of less than 3 MWt and units that exclusively use biomass must not be taken into consideration. However, if following verification of the achievement of the capacity threshold of 20 MWt it appears that the plant falls within the scope of application, it is still required to monitor and report CO2 emissions from units with a rated thermal power of less than 3 MWt. and from units that exclusively use biomass.
We have the appropriate know-how to manage the complexities of regulatory compliance inherent to the Emission Trading Scheme, such as the monitoring plan for plants authorized to emit CO2, annual reporting of emissions, support during audits by the Certification Body.
We take care of the application for the assignment of free quotas provided for by the regulation for your company, developing the reference data report (Baseline Data Template), the monitoring methodology plan (Monitoring Methodology Plan) and the verification report (Verification Report).