The sustained rise in the price of emission rights for the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide is bringing the German state record revenues. According to the German Emissions Trading Authority, the auctions of CO2 certificates in the first six months of this year raised almost 2.4 billion euros. This means that the result for the whole of last year of around 2.7 billion euros has almost been reached. The previous record income of just under 3.2 billion euros in 2019 should, according to the trading office, be exceeded this year.

Power plants and other industrial plants require the authorizations - they have to submit a certificate to the emissions trading office for each tonne of CO2 emitted.

They can acquire the so-called pollution rights, among other things, at auctions on the energy exchange in Leipzig.

There the price has only known one direction for months: up.

Electricity prices are rising

On average last year a certificate cost just under 25 euros, in January the price rose to over 33 euros and climbed to more than 52 euros in June.

The prices are also rising because the number of certificates available is decreasing from year to year.

This should create an incentive to invest in climate-friendly systems.

The increased prices for CO2 emissions also have an impact on electricity prices.

The wholesale price on the electricity exchange has now climbed to its highest level since 2008.

Rising CO2 prices, together with higher fuel costs, are the main reason for the expensive electricity.

The income from the auctions of CO2 certificates is only the smaller part of the income of the German state from emissions trading.

Significantly more money will be poured into the coffers' cash register by the price of CO2 when driving and heating.

Since the beginning of the year, 25 euros per ton of CO2 have been charged for fuels, heating oil and gas.

The Federal Ministry of Finance expects revenues of a good 7.4 billion euros for 2021.

They are likely to rise sharply in the coming years because the CO2 price will be raised to 55 euros per ton by 2025.

The income from emissions trading flows into an energy and climate fund of the federal government, from which measures for climate protection are financed, such as the promotion of energy savings in the renovation of buildings.