Emissions trading as opportunity …
With GWE, stay ahead also in emissions trading: How modern portfolio management can turn liabilities into opportunities
The implementation of the European
Emissions Trading Scheme started on January 1st 2005 in
Germany and the European Union for many affected companies. Under the
emissions trading obligation based on the Kyoto Protocol and the
corresponding European and/or German laws and guidelines, around 2,700
plants operators in Germany alone would contribute towards achieving a
significant reduction in the CO2 emissions worldwide in the coming
years.
In Germany this is carried out through the issue of the so-called
“emission trading certificates”, which allow their owners to emit a
certain amount of carbon dioxide from their plants. In the last few
months the operators of such plants were required by law to apply for
the respective certificates at the German Emissions Trading Authority
(DEHSt) in Berlin. To achieve the required reduction of emissions,
however, a so-called correction factor was employed: the companies
received less certificates than their own estimated requirements of
emissions to continue operations of their plants. German legislators
expect them to fill the remaining gap through the purchase of emission
rights (trading), or through investments in climate-friendly
technologies (reduction of pollutants).
While a lot of companies consider the complicated German and
European regulations of emissions
trading as an inconvenient obligation, the GWE Gesellschaft für
wirtschaftliche Energieversorgung mbH has realised early the economic
potentials of the emissions trading scheme. The companies that have
already converted to consistent environmentally sound technologies will
profit from the emissions trading: As they need less certificates for
the operation of their modern plants, there remains a potential for the
unused certificates that can be specifically used to reduce costs – to
the customers’ advantage.
The GWE achieves this through a modern portfolio management that
includes the use of emission certificates, besides the classic purchase
and sales of different energy sources. In this way, the emissions
trading becomes a constant in operational management, which will in
future prevent bad surprises for GWE and its customers.
Only in 2006 will it be evident who all started the emissions
trading well prepared: Then the first “monitoring reports” have to be
submitted, in which according to statutory regulations the companies
concerned will have to provide information on the actual amount of
emissions of their plants. Here the GWE can show its excellent know-how
as a long-term portfolio specialist and operator of various modern power
generation plants – through well-directed plant management, which also
places it in a leading position in emissions trading.
