By Checkalle Energy Team · Last updated:
CO₂ Price 2026 Germany
Corridor €55–65 per Ton
Germany's CO₂ price moves into a corridor of €55–65 per ton in 2026, set by auctions at the EEX (Leipzig) starting July. Petrol, diesel, heating oil and natural gas all get pricier. You can still cut costs.
Key Takeaways
- The CO₂ price sits in a corridor of €55 to €65 per ton in 2026 for the first time, no longer a fixed figure.
- The EEX auction in Leipzig runs from July to October 2026, at least weekly. Backup fixed price: €68/t.
- At the upper bound (€65/t): petrol +18.5 ct/L, diesel +20.7 ct/L, heating oil +20.7 ct/L, natural gas +1.4 ct/kWh (VAT included).
- Klimageld 2026: not being paid. The new coalition agreement removed the term entirely.
- From 2028 the EU-wide ETS 2 replaces the German CO₂ price, with an expected floor near €50/t.
Impact on Your Costs in 2026
These figures show the surcharge at the upper bound of the corridor (€65/t, VAT included). At €55/t the amounts come in roughly 15 to 18 percent lower.
Petrol
at €55–65/t CO₂
7 L/100 km · 15,000 km/year
~ €160–190/year
Diesel
at €55–65/t CO₂
6 L/100 km · 15,000 km/year
~ €155–185/year
Heating Oil EL
at €55–65/t CO₂
2,000 L/year
~ €350–414/year
Natural Gas
at €55–65/t CO₂
15,000 kWh/year (flat)
~ €165–210/year
CO₂ Tax Table 2026: All Fuels
What does the corridor mean in cents per litre or kWh? Surcharges (VAT included) at both bounds plus the €68/t backup price (Source: DEHSt).
| Fuel | at €55/t | at €65/t | Backup €68/t* |
|---|---|---|---|
Petrol | ~ 15.4 ct/L | ~ 18.5 ct/L | ~ 19.4 ct/L |
Diesel | ~ 17.3 ct/L | ~ 20.7 ct/L | ~ 21.6 ct/L |
Heating oil EL | ~ 17.3 ct/L | ~ 20.7 ct/L | ~ 21.6 ct/L |
Natural gas | ~ 1.1 ct/kWh | ~ 1.4 ct/kWh | ~ 1.5 ct/kWh |
LPG | ~ 1.0 ct/kWh | ~ 1.2 ct/kWh | ~ 1.3 ct/kWh |
*Fallback fixed price after the auction closes if certificates were not enough (Source: DEHSt).
CO₂ Price Trajectory 2021–2028
From a fixed price (until 2025) to the corridor auction (2026/27) to the EU-wide ETS 2 market (from 2028).
EEX Auction 2026: How the Price Forms
For the first time since Germany's national emissions trading started in 2021, the CO₂ price is no longer fixed by law. Auctions at the EEX in Leipzig run from July 2026 onwards, at Europe's largest energy exchange (Umweltbundesamt). The federal government sets only the frame: floor €55, ceiling €65 per ton.
Who buys the certificates? Fuel suppliers, namely oil majors, gas importers, heating oil dealers. They typically pass the cost to consumers, which means the auction price inside the corridor directly affects what you pay at the pump and on your heating bill.
If demand outstrips supply, there is a safety valve: after the auction closes, companies can buy further certificates from DEHSt at a fixed price of €68/t. This ceiling protects the market from price spikes.
Klimageld 2026: What Happened to the Promise?
In short: the Klimageld is not being paid in 2026.
The previous coalition promised back in 2021 to refund a share of CO₂ revenue to all citizens. It never happened. The current coalition agreement (as of January 2026) drops the term entirely.
Instead, the revenue flows into the Climate and Transformation Fund (KTF), funding heat pump subsidies, building renovation, mobility programmes and electricity tax relief. Consumers don't see this directly. Using less CO₂ saves you money, but no state payout is coming.
If you want real relief, you have to act yourself: switch electricity or gas providers, pick a green tariff, or plan a heating upgrade. Source: Finanztip 2026-01-14.
ETS 2 from 2028: What Comes After the German CO₂ Price?
The national emissions trading scheme is a transitional fix. From 1 January 2028 the EU-wide ETS 2 takes over for buildings and transport (Bundesumweltministerium).
That means: from 2028, a shared European market decides the CO₂ price on heating oil, natural gas, petrol and diesel. The EU Commission expects a floor near €50/t plus a price stabilisation mechanism to cushion spikes.
The shift from nEHS to ETS 2 should not bring a sharp price jump for consumers, but it does mean longer-term lock-in since national steering falls away.
How to Offset CO₂ Costs in 2026
At €65/t and 15,000 kWh of gas use, you pay around €210 extra a year. A provider switch often saves double that, without any change in comfort.
Long term: upgrade the heating
Heat pumps, pellet boilers and district heating from renewables sidestep the CO₂ price completely. BAFA and KfW grants cut upfront cost by 30 to 70 percent. Current terms are on the KfW site and our gas cost overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CO2 price in Germany in 2026?
The CO2 price sits in a corridor between 55 and 65 euros per ton in 2026. The exact figure is set by auctions at the EEX in Leipzig starting July 2026. If certificates run short, a backup fixed price of 68 €/t applies. Source: DEHSt, BEHG § 10.
When does the EEX auction for CO2 certificates start?
Auctions start in early July 2026 and run at least weekly until end of October 2026, per DEHSt. Fuel suppliers (oil, gas, heating oil) bid for the certificates they need to cover their emissions.
How much more will petrol cost due to the CO2 price 2026?
At 55 €/t the surcharge is around 15.4 cents per litre, at 65 €/t about 18.5 ct/L (VAT included). For 15,000 km a year at 7 L/100 km, that means an extra 160 to 190 euros per year depending on auction outcome.
What is the CO2 surcharge on heating oil in 2026?
Heating oil EL gets 17.3 ct/L more expensive at 55 €/t and 20.7 ct/L at 65 €/t (VAT included). A typical household burning 2,000 L a year pays 350 to 414 euros extra in 2026, before any oil market movement.
Will the Klimageld be paid out in 2026?
No. The Klimageld was never implemented. The new coalition agreement (as of January 2026) drops the term entirely. Revenue from the CO2 price flows into the Climate and Transformation Fund instead. Source: Finanztip 2026-01-14.
What is the difference between nEHS and ETS 2?
The nEHS (national emissions trading) covers buildings and transport in Germany and ends in 2027. From 2028 the EU-wide ETS 2 takes over the same sectors with a common European price instead of a national corridor. Expected floor: around 50 €/t with a price stabilisation mechanism.
How can I reduce my CO2 costs in 2026?
Four levers work right away: switch to a cheaper electricity or gas provider (often 300 to 800 euros saved per year), choose green electricity (no CO2 price on power), cut consumption (heating habits, fuel efficiency), upgrade your heating with BAFA or KfW funding for the long term.
Does the CO2 price hit pellet heaters and heat pumps too?
No. Both fall outside the scope of the BEHG. Pellets count as biogenic, heat pumps run on electricity (taxed separately, not under national emissions trading). If you modernise in 2026, you can sidestep the CO2 price at the fuel level entirely.
Sources
- DEHSt, National Emissions Trading auction phase from 2026
- Bundesumweltministerium, relief from 2026 despite rising CO₂ price
- Finanztip, CO₂ Tax / CO₂ Price 2026 (Stand 14.01.2026)
- Umweltbundesamt, first auctions in the national emissions trading system
- Verbraucherzentrale, CO₂ price impact on heating costs
- Brennstoffemissionshandelsgesetz (BEHG) § 10 Abs. 2