GHG quota Austria 2024 at a glance
Following the successful launch of the GHG bonus last year, it will also be possible to receive the GHG bonus in Austria in 2024: E-mobilists can be paid for the fact that their vehicle is equipped with sustainable electric drives rather than fossil fuels. In this article you can find out everything about the GHG quota in Austria and the THG premium from SMATRICS and carbonify.
What is the GHG quota?
The term GHG quota is an abbreviation of ‘greenhouse gas reduction quota’ and is sometimes also referred to as ‘GHG premium’, ‘eQuota’ or ‘ePremium’. The GHG quota was introduced as an economic policy instrument to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the transport sector, promote renewable energies and replace fossil fuels and environmentally harmful drive technologies with more sustainable alternatives in the long term.
Companies that market fossil fuels in Austria are legally obliged by the KVO to reduce their emissions annually. If the GHG quota is not met, the companies must pay high compensation amounts.
The GHG quota enables e-mobilists to exchange the CO2 they save for the THG premium via SMATRICS and carbonify.
KVO amendment as legal basis for the GHG quota
Last year's amendment to the Fuel Regulation (KVO) forms the legal basis of the GHG regulation for Austria. In this ordinance, companies that place fossil fuels on the Austrian market are obliged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG emissions): From extraction to refining & further processing to combustion, GHG emissions must be demonstrably reduced or GHG quotas must be acquired.
The renewable share of electricity used to charge electric vehicles can also be counted as a GHG reduction thanks to the amendment to the KVO. Companies that put fossil fuels into circulation can either operate charging stations for e-vehicles themselves or fulfil their obligation to reduce GHG emissions by offsetting the electricity generated by other charging station operators. In this context, demonstrably measured electricity volumes at public and semi-public charging points in Austria, such as the charging stations in the fast-charging network of SMATRICS EnBW, are eligible for offsetting.
GHG bonus for e-mobilists
The GHG quota benefits e-vehicle owners of e-vehicles registered in Austria that are two-lane battery electric vehicles such as cars, vans, buses or lorries.
The basis for calculating the premium is the amount of electricity that can be demonstrably allocated to the respective e-vehicle at a private (non-public) charging point.
Formally, this crediting only takes place in the following year, but in Austria SMATRICS and carbonify make it possible to receive the THG bonus in advance and for the current year 2024.