17.5.2011   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 130/1

(1)

Article 10a of the Directive requires that the Community-wide and fully-harmonised implementing measures for the allocation of free emission allowances should, to the extent feasible, determine ex-ante benchmarks so as to ensure that the free allocation of emission allowances takes place in a manner that provides incentives for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficient techniques, by taking account of the most efficient techniques, substitutes, alternative production processes, high efficiency cogeneration, efficient energy recovery of waste gases, use of biomass and capture and storage of carbon dioxide, where such facilities are available, and should not provide incentives to increase emissions. Allocations must be fixed prior to the trading period so as to enable the market to function properly.

(2)

In defining the principles for setting ex-ante benchmarks in individual sectors or sub-sectors, the starting point should be the average performance of the 10 % most efficient installations in a sector or sub-sector in the EU in the years 2007-2008. The benchmarks should be calculated for products rather than for inputs, in order to maximise greenhouse gas emissions reductions and energy efficiency savings throughout each production process of the sector or the sub-sector concerned.

(3)

In order to establish the benchmarks, the Commission has consulted the relevant stakeholders, including the sectors and sub-sectors concerned. Information necessary for setting the benchmarks, installation data on the production, emissions and energy use, was collected as of February 2009 from industry associations, Member States, publicly and commercially available sources and through a survey asking installations to participate.

(4)

To the extent feasible, the Commission has developed benchmarks for products, as well as intermediate products that are traded between installations, produced from activities listed in Annex I to Directive 2003/87/EC. In principle, for each product one benchmark should be defined. Where a product is a direct substitute of another product, both should be covered by the same product benchmark and the related product definition.

(5)

The Commission considered that setting a benchmark for a product was feasible where, taking into account the complexity of the production processes, product definitions and classifications were available that allow for verification of production data and a uniform application of the product benchmark across the Union for the purposes of allocating emission allowances. No differentiation was made on the basis of geography or on the basis of technologies, raw materials or fuels used, so as not to distort comparative advantages in carbon efficiency across the Union economy, and to enhance harmonisation of the transitional free allocation of emission allowances.

(6)

The benchmark values should cover all production-related direct emissions, including emissions related to the production of measurable heat used for production, regardless of whether the measurable heat was produced on-site or by another installation. Emissions related to the production of electricity and to the export of measurable heat, including avoided emissions of alternative heat or electricity production in cases of exothermic processes or the production of electricity without direct emissions, were deducted when setting the benchmark values. In case the deduction of emissions related to the export of measurable heat was not feasible, this heat should not be eligible for the free allocation of emission allowances.

(7)

In order to ensure that benchmarks lead to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, for some production processes in which direct emissions eligible for the free allocation of emission allowances and indirect emissions from electricity production not eligible for free allocation on the basis of Directive 2003/87/EC are to a certain extent interchangeable, the total emissions including indirect emissions related to the production of electricity have been considered for the determination of the benchmark values to ensure a level playing field for fuel and electro-intensive installations. For the purpose of the allocation of emission allowances on the basis of the benchmarks concerned, only the share of the direct emissions in the total emissions should be taken into account in order to avoid providing free allocation of emission allowances for emissions related to electricity.

(8)

For the determination of benchmark values, the Commission has used as a starting point the arithmetic average of the greenhouse gas performance of the 10 % most greenhouse gas efficient installations in 2007 and 2008 for which data has been collected. In addition, the Commission has in accordance with Article 10a(1) of Directive 2003/87/EC analysed for all sectors for which a product benchmark is provided for in Annex I, on the basis of additional information received from several sources and on the basis of a dedicated study analysing most efficient techniques and reduction potentials at European and international level, whether these starting points sufficiently reflect the most efficient techniques, substitutes, alternative production processes, high efficiency cogeneration, efficient energy recovery of waste gases, use of biomass and capture and storage of carbon dioxide, where such facilities are available. Data used for determining the benchmark values has been collected from a wide range of sources in order to cover a maximum of installations producing a benchmarked product in the years 2007 and 2008. First, data on the greenhouse gas performance of ETS installations producing benchmarked products has been collected by or on behalf of the respective European sector associations based on defined rules, so-called ‘sector rule books’. As reference for these rule books, the Commission provided guidance on quality and verification criteria for benchmarking data for the EU-ETS. Second, to complement the data collection by European sector associations, consultants on behalf of the European Commission collected data from installations not covered by industry’s data and also competent authorities of Member States provided data and analyses.

(9)

To ensure that the benchmark values are based on correct and compliant data, the Commission, supported by consultants, carried out in-depth compliance checks of the sector rule books as well as plausibility checks of the starting point values derived from the data. As indicated in the guidance on quality and verification, data has been verified to the extent necessary by independent verifiers.

(10)

Where several products are produced in one installation and an assignment of emissions to the individual products has not been regarded feasible, only single product installations have been covered by the data collection and included in the benchmark setting. This concerns the product benchmarks for lime, dolime, bottles and jars of colourless glass, bottles and jars of coloured glass, facing bricks, pavers, spray-dried powder, uncoated fine paper, tissue, testliner and fluting, uncoated carton board as well as coated carton board. To increase the significance and check the plausibility of the results, the values for the average performance of the 10 % most efficient installations have been compared against literature on most efficient techniques.

(11)

In case no data or no data collected in compliance with the benchmarking methodology has been available, information on present levels of emissions and consumptions and on most efficient techniques, mainly derived from the Reference Documents on Best Available Techniques (BREF) established in accordance with Directive 2008/1/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2008 concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (2) has been used to derive benchmark values. In particular, due to a lack of data on the treatment of waste gases, heat exports and electricity production, the values for the product benchmarks for coke and hot metal have been derived from calculations of direct and indirect emissions based on information on relevant energy flows provided by the relevant BREF and default emission factors set out in Commission Decision 2007/589/EC of 18 July 2007 establishing guidelines for the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (3). For the product benchmark for sintered ore, data has also been corrected based on relevant energy flows provided by the relevant BREF, taking into account the combustion of waste gases in the sector.

(12)

Where deriving a product benchmark was not feasible, but greenhouse gases eligible for the free allocation of emission allowances occur, those allowances should be allocated on the basis of generic fallback approaches. A hierarchy of three fallback approaches has been developed in order to maximise greenhouse gas emission reductions and energy savings for at least parts of the production processes concerned. The heat benchmark is applicable for heat consumption processes where a measurable heat carrier is used. The fuel benchmark is applicable where non-measurable heat is consumed. The heat and fuel benchmark values have been derived based upon the principles of transparency and simplicity, using the reference efficiency of a widely available fuel that can be regarded as second-best in terms of greenhouse gas efficiency, considering energy efficient techniques. For process emissions, emission allowances should be allocated on the basis of historical emissions. In order to ensure that the free allocation of emission allowances for such emissions provides sufficient incentives for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and to avoid any difference in treatment of process emissions that are allocated on the basis of historical emissions and those within the system boundaries of a product benchmark, the historical activity level of each installation should be multiplied by a factor equal to 0,9700 to determine the number of free emission allowances.

(13)

From 2013 onwards, all free allocations pursuant to Article 10a of Directive 2003/87/EC should be done in accordance with these rules. To give effect to the transitional system provided for by Article 10a(11) of Directive 2003/87/EC, according to which the free allocation of emission allowances should decrease from 80 % of the amount that corresponded to the allowances to be allocated in 2013 to 30 % of this amount in 2020 with a view to reaching no free allocation in 2027, the factors set out in Annex VI apply. Where a sector or sub-sector has been put on the list determined by Commission Decision 2010/2/EU of 24 December 2009 determining, pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, a list of sectors and subsectors which are deemed to be exposed to a significant risk of carbon leakage (4), these factors do not apply. Allocations under this Decision will be taken into account in determining future lists of sectors or sub-sectors deemed to be exposed to a significant risk of carbon leakage.

(14)

To facilitate the data collection from operators and the calculation of the emission allowances to be allocated by Member States, each installation should be divided into sub-installations where required. Member States should ensure that emissions are correctly attributed to the relevant sub-installations and that there are no overlaps between sub-installations.

(15)

Member States should ensure that data collected from the operators and used for allocation purposes is complete, consistent and presents the highest achievable accuracy. It should be verified by an independent verifier so as to ensure that the free allocation of emission allowances is based on solid and reliable data. This decision should provide for specific minimum requirements for data collection and verification to facilitate a harmonised and consistent application of the allocation rules.

(16)

The amount of allowances to be allocated free of charge to incumbent installations should be based on historical production data. In order to ensure that the reference period is as far as possible representative of industry cycles, covers a relevant period where good quality data is available and reduces the impact of special circumstances, such as temporary closure of installations, the historical activity levels have been based on the median production during the period from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2008, or, where it is higher, on the median production during the period from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2010. It is also appropriate to take account of any significant capacity change that has taken place in the relevant period. For new entrants, the determination of activity levels should be based on standard capacity utilisation based on sector-specific information or on installation-specific capacity utilisation.

(17)

The information collected by Member States should facilitate the application of this Decision by competent authorities and by the Commission.

(18)

In order to avoid any distortion of competition and to ensure an orderly functioning of the carbon market, Member States should ensure that when determining the allocation of individual installations no double counting and no double allocation takes place. In this context, Member States should pay particular attention to cases where a benchmarked product is produced in more than one installation, where more than one benchmarked product is produced in the same installation or where intermediate products are exchanged across installation boundaries.

(19)

To ensure that the emissions trading system delivers reductions over time, Directive 2003/87/EC provides for the Union-wide quantity of allowances to decrease in a linear manner. As this decreasing Union-wide quantity is taken into account for determining the maximum annual amount of allowances pursuant to Article 10a(5) of Directive 2003/87/EC, all free emission allowances allocated on the basis of this Decision to installations not covered by this maximum annual amount referred to in Article 10a(5) should be adjusted in the same linear manner as the Union-wide quantity of allowances, using the year 2013 as a reference.

(20)

The uniform cross-sectoral correction factor that is applicable in each year of the period from 2013 to 2020 to installations that are not identified as electricity generators, and that are not new entrants, pursuant to Article 10a(5) of Directive 2003/87/EC, should be determined on the basis of the preliminary total annual amount of emission allowances allocated free of charge over the period from 2013 to 2020 calculated for these installations pursuant to this Decision, including the installations that might be excluded according to Article 27 of that Directive. This amount of free emission allowances allocated in each year of the period should be compared with the annual amount of allowances that is calculated in accordance with Article 10a(5) of Directive 2003/87/EC for installations that are not electricity generator or new entrants, taking into account the relevant share of the annual Community-wide total quantity, as determined pursuant to Article 9 of that Directive, and the relevant amount of emissions that are only included in the Union scheme from 2013 onwards.

(21)

Where measurable heat is exchanged between two or more installations, the free allocation of emission allowances should be based on the heat consumption of an installation and take account of the risk of carbon leakage. Thus, to ensure that the number of free emission allowances to be allocated is independent from the heat supply structure, emission allowances should be allocated to the heat consumer.

(22)

To enhance the significance of the available data on the greenhouse gas performance of the installations covered by the Union scheme, the product benchmarks for sulphite pulp, thermo-mechanical pulp and mechanical pulp as well as for recovered paper are based on BREF information on most efficient techniques reflecting the use of fossil start-up fuels, the use of fossil fuels (for sulphite pulp, thermo-mechanical and mechanical pulp) and of thermal energy (for recovered paper). The product benchmark for newsprint has also been based on most efficient techniques reflecting the use of thermal energy to derive a significant benchmark value.

(23)

In order to take account of additional greenhouse gas emissions not reflected in the data for determining the benchmark values for some installations, in particular methane emissions, and to ensure that the allocation of free emission allowances on the basis of the product benchmark takes into account the greenhouse gas efficiency of the processes and does not provide incentives to increase emissions, the individual data points of the installations on the benchmark curve for nitric acid have been corrected on the basis of information on the average of these emissions provided by industry and of information derived from the BREF. The product benchmark for nitric acid reflects this correction.

(24)

In order to take into account differences in refinery configurations, the product benchmark for the refinery sector should be based on the ‘CO2 weighted tonne’ (hereinafter ‘CWT’) approach. Thereby the single product of the refinery is the CWT and its production has been calculated on the basis of defined generic process units each of which has been weighted with an emission factor relative to crude distillation, denoted as the CWT factor and representative of the CO2 emission intensity at an average level of energy efficiency, for the same standard fuel type for each process unit for combustion, and for average process emissions of the process unit. On this basis, the data points used for setting the product benchmark have been derived by comparing the actual emissions to the total CWT of each refinery. The free allocation of emission allowances to refineries is then corrected to exclude electricity use and production in order to be consistent with Article 10a(1) of Directive 2003/87/EC.

(25)

Given the wide range of product qualities that can be achieved, the product benchmarks for lime and dolime refer to a standard composition concerning calcium oxide and magnesium oxide. Regarding combustion emissions data for specific combustion emissions of the production of these standard products has been used based on Decision 2007/589/EC.

(26)

Whereas several product benchmarks, such as the ammonia and soda ash benchmarks, assume that all CO2 resulting from the production processes is emitted to the atmosphere, emissions should be monitored and reported in accordance with the regulation for the monitoring and reporting of emissions from the activities listed in Annex I, to be adopted by 31 December 2011 pursuant to Article 14(1) of Directive 2003/87/EC, assuming that all CO2 produced during these production processes was emitted to the atmosphere, irrespective of any potential use of the CO2 as feedstock in chemical production processes.

(27)

The steam cracking benchmark does not cover the so-called supplemental feed, high value chemicals that are not produced in the main process as well as the related emissions, but, where applicable, supplemental feed should be considered for the free allocation of emission allowances using specific emission factors.

(28)

In order to ensure a level playing field for the production of aromatics in refineries and in chemical plants, the free allocation of emission allowances for aromatics should be based on the CWT approach and the benchmark value of the refineries product benchmark should be applied.

(29)

Considering that in the production of vinyl chloride monomer, hydrogen is used to some extent as fuel substituting conventional fuels such as natural gas, thus reducing the direct emissions of the combusting process, but considering also that the use of hydrogen as a feedstock is preferable in terms of total greenhouse gas efficiency, the vinyl chloride monomer benchmark accounts for the fuel use of hydrogen as if it was natural gas.

(30)

In order to ensure a level playing field for the production of hydrogen and synthesis gas in refineries and in chemical plants, the benchmark for these products should be based on the CWT approach and the benchmark value of the refineries benchmark. Both product benchmarks refer to a defined volumetric concentration of hydrogen.

(31)

Given that full auctioning should be the rule from 2013 onwards for the power sector, taking into account its ability to pass on the increased cost of carbon dioxide, and that no free allocation should be made in respect of any electricity production, except for transitional free allocation for the modernisation of electricity generation and electricity produced from waste gases, this Decision should not cover the free allocation of emission allowances related to the production or consumption of electricity. Nevertheless, according to Article 10a(6) of Directive 2003/87/EC, sectors or subsectors deemed to be exposed to a significant risk of carbon leakage may be compensated for costs related to greenhouse gas emissions passed on in electricity prices by financial measures adopted by Member States in accordance with state aid rules applicable and to be adopted by the Commission in this area.

(32)

It is also appropriate that the product benchmarks take account of the efficient energy recovery of waste gases and emissions related to their use. To this end, for the determination of the benchmark values for products of which the production generates waste gases, the carbon content of these waste gases has been taken into account to a large extent. Where waste gases are exported from the production process outside the system boundaries of the relevant product benchmark and combusted for the production of heat outside the system boundaries of a benchmarked process as defined in Annex I, related emissions should be taken into account by means of allocating additional emission allowances on the basis of the heat or fuel benchmark. In the light of the general principle that no emission allowances should be allocated for free in respect of any electricity production, to avoid undue distortions of competition on the markets for electricity supplied to industrial installations and taking into account the inherent carbon price in electricity, it is appropriate that, where waste gases are exported from the production process outside the system boundaries of the relevant product benchmark and combusted for the production of electricity, no additional allowances are allocated beyond the share of the carbon content of the waste gas accounted for in the relevant product benchmark.

(33)

The product benchmarks also take account of the historical emissions from flaring of waste gases related to the production of a given product and fuel used for safety flaring should be considered fuel used for the production of non-measurable heat in order to take account of the compulsory nature of these flares.

(34)

Substantial investment efforts are necessary to combat climate change and to reduce the carbon intensity of economies. This Decision should therefore be applied in a manner to foster investment in clean technologies in each sector and sub-sector. In accordance with Directive 2003/87/EC, other policies and measures may in the future supplement this goal and encourage the effective use of allowances in order to generate substantial investments in more energy-efficient technologies. In particular, if the final annual amount of allowances allocated free of charge for all incumbent installations determined in accordance with this Decision falls significantly below the maximum annual amount of allowances referred to in Article 10a(5) of Directive 2003/87/EC, an amendment to this Decision could provide incentives for further reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with Article 10a(1) of Directive 2003/87/EC by allocating allowances to installations capable of implementing innovative technologies that further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

(35)

Investments in significant capacity extensions giving access to the reserve for new entrants provided for in Article 10a(7) of Directive 2003/87/EC should be unambiguous and of a certain scale in order to avoid an early depletion of the reserve of emission allowances created for new entrants, to avoid distortions of competition, to avoid any undue administrative burden and to ensure equal treatment of installations across Member States. It is therefore appropriate to define the threshold for a significant capacity change by 10 % of the installation’s installed capacity and require that the change in the installed capacity triggers a significantly higher or lower activity level of the installation concerned. However, incremental capacity extensions or reductions should be taken into account when assessing whether this threshold is reached.

(36)

Considering the limited number of allowances in the reserve for new entrants, it is appropriate to assess, when a considerable amount of these allowances is issued to new entrants, whether a fair and equitable access to the remaining allowances in this reserve is guaranteed. In the light of the outcome of this assessment, the possibility for a queuing system may be provided. The design and the definition of the eligibility criteria of such a system should take account of different permitting practices in Member States, avoid any misuse and not provide incentives to reserve allowances over an unreasonable period of time.

(37)

To ensure that no emission allowances are allocated free of charge to an installation that has ceased its operations, this Decision should provide for measures defining such installations and prohibiting the issuance of allowances, unless it can be established that the installation will resume its operations within a specified and reasonable amount of time.

(38)

In order to adapt the number of emission allowances to be allocated to an installation having partially ceased operations, specific thresholds comparing the reduced activity level to the initial activity level have been defined. The number of emission allowances to be allocated should then be adjusted accordingly as of the year following the year during which the installation partially ceased operations. Where such an installation again reaches an activity level above the thresholds, the initial number of emission allowances to be allocated should be partly or even fully be reinstated depending of the installation’s level of operation.

(39)

Where applicable, account has been taken of the guidance on interpretation of Annex I to Directive 2003/87/EC.

(40)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Climate Change Committee,

(a)

‘incumbent installation’ means any installation carrying out one or more activities listed in Annex I to Directive 2003/87/EC or an activity included in the Union scheme for the first time in accordance with Article 24 of that Directive which:

(b)

‘product benchmark sub-installation’ means inputs, outputs and corresponding emissions relating to the production of a product for which a benchmark has been set in Annex I;

(c)

‘heat benchmark sub-installation’ means inputs, outputs and corresponding emissions not covered by a product benchmark sub-installation relating to the production, the import from an installation or other entity covered by the Union scheme, or both, of measurable heat which is:

(d)

‘fuel benchmark sub-installation’ means inputs, outputs and corresponding emissions not covered by a product benchmark sub-installation relating to the production of non-measurable heat by fuel combustion consumed for the production of products, for the production of mechanical energy other than used for the production of electricity, for heating or cooling with the exception of the consumption for the production of electricity, including safety flaring;

(e)

‘measurable heat’ means a net heat flow transported through identifiable pipelines or ducts using a heat transfer medium, such as, in particular, steam, hot air, water, oil, liquid metals and salts, for which a heat meter is or could be installed;

(f)

‘heat meter’ means a heat meter within the meaning of Annex MI-004 to Directive 2004/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (5) or any other device to measure and record the amount of heat energy produced based upon flow volumes and temperatures;

(g)

‘non-measurable heat’ means all heat other than measurable heat;

(h)

‘process emissions sub-installation’ means greenhouse gas emissions listed in Annex I to Directive 2003/87/EC other than carbon dioxide, which occur outside the system boundaries of a product benchmark listed in Annex I, or carbon dioxide emissions, which occur outside the system boundaries of a product benchmark listed in Annex I, as a result of any of the following activities and emissions stemming from the combustion of incompletely oxidised carbon produced as a result of the following activities for the purpose of the production of measurable heat, non-measurable heat or electricity provided that emissions that would have occurred from the combustion of an amount of natural gas, equivalent to the technically usable energy content of the combusted incompletely oxidised carbon, are subtracted:

(i)

‘significant capacity extension’ means a significant increase in a sub-installation’s initial installed capacity whereby all of the following occur:

(j)

‘significant capacity reduction’ means one or more identifiable physical changes leading to a significant decrease in a sub-installation’s initial installed capacity and its activity level of the magnitude considered to constitute a significant capacity extension;

(k)

‘significant capacity change’ means either a significant capacity extension or a significant capacity reduction;

(l)

‘added capacity’ means the difference between the initial installed capacity of a sub-installation and the installed capacity of that same sub-installation after having had a significant extension determined on the basis of the average of the 2 highest monthly production volumes within the first 6 months following the start of changed operation;

(m)

‘reduced capacity’ means the difference between the initial installed capacity of a sub-installation and the installed capacity of that same sub-installation after having had a significant capacity reduction determined on the basis of the average of the 2 highest monthly production volumes within the first 6 months following the start of changed operation;

(n)

‘start of normal operation’ means the verified and approved first day of a continuous 90-day period, or, where the usual production cycle in the sector concerned does not foresee continuous production, the first day of a 90-day period split in sector-specific production cycles, during which the installation operates at least at 40 % of the capacity that the equipment is designed to accommodate taking into account, where appropriate, the installation-specific operating conditions;

(o)

‘start of changed operation’ means the verified and approved first day of a continuous 90-day period, or, where the usual production cycle in the sector concerned does not foresee continuous production, the first day of a 90-day period split in sector-specific production cycles, during which the changed sub-installation operates at least at 40 % of the capacity that the equipment is designed to accommodate taking into account, where appropriate, the sub-installation-specific operating conditions;

(p)

‘safety flaring’ means the combustion of pilot fuels and highly fluctuating amounts of process or residual gases in a unit open to atmospheric disturbances which is explicitly required for safety reasons by relevant permits for the installation;

(q)

‘private household’ means a residential unit in which persons make arrangements, individually or in groups, for providing themselves with measurable heat;

(r)

‘verifier’ means a competent, independent, person or verification body with responsibility for performing and reporting on the verification process, in accordance with the detailed requirements established by the Member State pursuant to Annex V to Directive 2003/87/EC;

(s)

‘reasonable assurance’ means a high but not absolute level of assurance, expressed positively in the verification opinion, whether the data subject to verification is free from material misstatement;

(t)

‘level of assurance’ means the degree to which the verifier is confident in the verification conclusions that it has been proved whether or not the data submitted for an installation is free from material misstatement;

(u)

‘material misstatement’ means a substantial misstatement (omissions, misrepresentations and errors, not considering the permissible uncertainty) in the data submitted that, according to the professional judgment of the verifier, could affect subsequent use of the data by the competent authority in the calculation of the allocation of emission allowances.

(a)

a product benchmark sub-installation;

(b)

a heat benchmark sub-installation;

(c)

a fuel benchmark sub-installation;

(d)

a process emissions sub-installation.

(a)

in principle, the initial installed capacity shall be the average of the 2 highest monthly production volumes in the period from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2008 assuming that the sub-installation has been operating at this load 720 hours per month for 12 months per year;

(b)

Where it is not possible to determine the initial installed capacity according to point (a), an experimental verification of the sub-installation’s capacity under the supervision of a verifier shall take place in order to ensure that the parameters used are typical for the sector concerned and that the results of the experimental verification are representative.

(a)

where different products are produced one after the other in the same production line, inputs, outputs and corresponding emissions shall be attributed sequentially based on the usage time per year for each sub-installation;

(b)

where it is not possible to attribute inputs, outputs and corresponding emissions according to point (a), they shall be attributed based on the mass or volume of individual products produced or estimates based on the ratio of free reaction enthalpies of the chemical reactions involved or based on another suitable distribution key that is corroborated by a sound scientific methodology.

(a)

the provisions of this Decision, as well as relevant standards and guidance;

(b)

the legislative, regulatory, and administrative requirements relevant to the activities being verified;

(c)

the generation of all information related to each parameter or source of emissions in the installation, in particular, relating to the collection, measurement, calculation and reporting of the data.

(a)

the verifier has planned and performed the verification with an attitude of professional scepticism recognising that circumstances may exist that cause the information and data submitted to be materially misstated;

(b)

the verifier has only validated reported parameters determined with a high degree of certainty. A high degree of certainty requires the operator to show that:

(c)

the verifier has commenced the verification process with a strategic analysis of all relevant activities carried out in the installation and has an overview of all the activities and their significance for allocation purposes;

(d)

the verifier has taken account of the information contained in the greenhouse gas emissions permit or other relevant environmental permits, such as the permit provided for in Directive 2008/1/EC, in particular when assessing the initial installed capacity of sub-installations;

(e)

the verifier has analysed the inherent risks and control risks related to the scope and complexity of the operator’s activities and related to allocation parameters, which could lead to material misstatements and has drawn up a verification plan following this risk analysis;

(f)

the verifier has conducted a site visit, when appropriate, to inspect the operation of meters and monitoring systems, conduct interviews, and collect sufficient information and evidence. If the verifier has deemed a site visit is not appropriate, he should be able to fully justify his decision to an appropriate authority;

(g)

the verifier has carried out the verification plan by gathering data in accordance with the defined sampling methods, walkthrough tests, document reviews, analytical procedures and data review procedures, including any relevant additional evidence, upon which the verifier’s verification opinion will be based;

(h)

the verifier has requested the operator to provide any missing data or complete missing sections of audit trails, explain variations in parameters or emissions data, or revise calculations, or adjust reported data;

(i)

the verifier has prepared an internal verification report. The verification report shall record evidence showing that the strategic analysis, the risk analysis and the verification plan has been performed in full, and provide sufficient information to support verification opinions. The internal verification report shall as well facilitate a potential evaluation of the audit by the competent authority, and accreditation body;

(j)

the verifier has made a judgment with respect to whether the reported parameters contain any material misstatement and whether there are other issues relevant for the verification opinion based on the findings contained in the internal verification report;

(k)

the verifier has presented the verification methodology, his findings and verification opinion in a verification report, addressed to the operator, to be submitted by the operator with the methodology report and the reported parameters to the competent authority.

(a)

it is clearly demonstrated that the installation is used occasionally, in particular, operated regularly as standby or reserve capacity or operated regularly following a seasonal schedule;

(b)

the installation is covered by a greenhouse gas emissions permit and by all other relevant permits required in the national legal order of the Member State to operate the installation;

(c)

it is technically possible to start operation on short notice and maintenance is carried out on a regular basis.

(a)

for each product benchmark sub-installation, the preliminary annual number of emission allowances allocated free of charge for a given year shall correspond to the value of this product benchmark as referred to in Annex I multiplied by the relevant product-related historical activity level;

(b)

for:

(a)

an identification of the installation and its boundaries using the installation identification code in the CITL;

(b)

an identification of each sub-installation of an installation;

(c)

for each product benchmark sub-installation the initial installed capacity together with the annual production volumes of the product concerned in the period 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2008;

(d)

for each installation and sub-installation information on whether or not it belongs to a sector or subsector deemed to be exposed to a significant risk of carbon leakage as determined by Decision 2010/2/EU;

(e)

for each sub-installation the preliminary annual number of emission allowances allocated free of charge over the period from 2013 to 2020 as determined in accordance with Article 10(2);

(f)

in addition to point (d), for sub-installations not serving a sector or subsector deemed to be exposed to a significant risk of carbon leakage as determined by Decision 2010/2/EU, the preliminary annual numbers of emission allowances allocated free of charge over the period from 2013 to 2020 decreasing by equal amounts from 80 % of the quantity in 2013 to 30 % in 2020 as determined in accordance with Article 10(4);

(g)

for each installation the preliminary total annual amounts of emission allowances allocated free of charge over the period from 2013 to 2020 as determined in accordance with Article 10(6).

(a)

the product-related activity level shall, for each product for which a product benchmark has been determined as referred to in Annex I, be the initial installed capacity for the production of this product of the installation concerned multiplied by the standard capacity utilisation factor;

(b)

the heat-related activity level shall be the initial installed capacity for the import from installations covered by the Union scheme, production, or both, of measurable heat consumed within the installation’s boundaries for the production of products, for the production of mechanical energy other than used for the production of electricity, for heating or cooling with the exception of the consumption for the production of electricity, or exported to an installation or other entity not covered by the Union scheme with the exception of the export for the production of electricity multiplied by the relevant capacity utilisation factor;

(c)

the fuel-related activity level shall be the initial installed capacity for the consumption of fuels used for the production of non-measurable heat consumed for the production of products, for the production of mechanical energy other than used for the production of electricity, for heating or cooling with the exception of the consumption for the production of electricity, including safety flaring, of the installation concerned multiplied by the relevant capacity utilisation factor;

(d)

the process emissions-related activity level shall be the initial installed capacity for the production of process emissions of the process unit multiplied by the relevant capacity utilisation factor.

(a)

for each product benchmark sub-installation, the preliminary annual number of emission allowances allocated free of charge for a given year shall correspond to the value of that product benchmark multiplied by the product-related activity level;

(b)

for each heat benchmark sub-installation, the preliminary annual number of emission allowances allocated free of charge shall correspond to the value of the heat benchmark for this measurable heat as referred to in Annex I multiplied by the heat-related activity level;

(c)

for each fuel benchmark sub-installation, the preliminary annual number of emission allowances allocated free of charge shall correspond to the value of the fuel benchmark as referred to in Annex I multiplied by the fuel-related activity level;

(d)

for each process emissions sub-installation, the preliminary annual number of emission allowances allocated free of charge for a given year shall correspond to the process-related activity level multiplied by 0,9700.

(a)

the greenhouse gas emissions permit, the permit in force in accordance with Directive 2008/1/EC or any other relevant environmental permit has expired;

(b)

the permits referred to under point (a) have been withdrawn;

(c)

operation of the installation is technically impossible;

(d)

the installation is not operating, but has been operating before and it is technically impossible to resume operation;

(e)

the installation is not operating, but has been operating before and the operator cannot establish that this installation will resume operation at the latest within 6 months after having ceased operations. Member States may extent this period up to a maximum of 18 months if the operator can establish that the installation cannot resume operation within 6 months due to exceptional and unforeseeable circumstances that could not have been avoided even if all due care had been exercised and that are beyond the control of the operator of the installation concerned, in particular because of circumstances such as natural disasters, war, threats of war, terrorist acts, revolution, riot, sabotage or acts of vandalism.

(a)

the operator holds a greenhouse gas emissions permit and all other relevant permits;

(b)

it is technically possible to start operations without making physical changes to the installation;

(c)

regular maintenance is carried out.

if the activity level of the sub-installation referred to in paragraph 1 is reduced by 50 % to 75 % compared to the initial activity level, the sub-installation shall only receive half of the initially allocated allowances;

if the activity level of the sub-installation referred to in paragraph 1 is reduced by 75 % to 90 % compared to the initial activity level, the sub-installation shall only receive 25 % of the initially allocated allowances;

if the activity level of the sub-installation referred to in paragraph 1 is reduced by 90 % or more compared to the initial activity level, no allowances shall be allocated free of charge in respect of the sub-installation concerned.