Last Friday, the European Commission published, after a lengthy delay, the status table on free allocation to industry and heat production for 2024. According to the document, Member States have distributed more than three quarters.

As of July 11, around 392 million allowances were granted for free out of a total of 513 million allowances available for 2024. Last year, the European Commision allocated 526 million allowances while in 2022, the number reached 533 million allowances. 

Several countries have already completed their distribution while Germany, the biggest beneficiary with a total of 124 million allowances, has used up more than 99% of its free allocation. 

Source: European Commission, chart by EMBA Power

On the opposite side, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland and Portugal have yet to use any free allowances. Romania has distributed 52% out of a total of 12 million allowances that can be handed out for free to industrial emitters, below the EU’s average.

Starting this year, countries were supposed to grant free allocation until June 30, instead of February 28. The process was delayed by four months “to better align with the new compliance cycle for grantig free allocation by the competent authorities and for the surrendering of allowances by the operators,” as stated by the European Commission.