The CO2 price in 2027 is the charge that companies pay for fuels they place on the market, such as natural gas, heating oil, petrol and diesel. It is governed by the German Fuel Emissions Trading Act (BEHG, Brennstoffemissionshandelsgesetz). For tenants and students, the practical question is what 2027 will add to their heating and fuel bills. This guide explains the price corridor that the Bundestag agreed in October 2026 and separates what is documented in official sources from what remains open.
Short answer: On 15 October 2026 the Bundestag agreed a CO2 price for 2027 within a corridor of 55 to 65 euros per tonne of CO2. According to the Bundestag, the price stays at the 2026 level in 2027. From 2028 the EU-wide emissions trading system for buildings and transport is to start with free market price formation. Last updated: November 2026. Check the Bundesrat outcome and entry into force in the Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt).
The most important points
- On 15 October 2026 the Bundestag adopted the amendments to the BEHG with 303 votes in favour, 210 against and 52 abstentions.
- For 2027 the Bundestag names a price corridor of 55 to 65 euros per tonne of CO2.
- The CO2 price stays at the 2026 level in 2027.
- From 2028 the EU-wide emissions trading system for buildings and transport (EU-ETS 2) is to apply with free market price formation. The source gives no euro amount for 2028.
- The Bundestag text does not show whether the Bundesrat has given final approval. Check the law as published in the Federal Law Gazette.
What has the Bundestag decided for 2027?
The Bundestag adopted the draft bill on 15 October 2026 in the version amended by its environment committee. According to the Bundestag documentation, the vote was 303 to 210 with 52 abstentions. For 2027 the text states that the price should lie within a corridor of 55 to 65 euros per tonne of CO2. That price range is therefore the central figure on which every further calculation depends.
The committee also adjusted the number of certificates to be auctioned in 2027. According to the Bundestag text, this rises to around 234 million certificates, because a deduction of 40 million certificates for 2026 was dropped. For your own costs this lever matters less than the price range itself, since it affects how the system is steered rather than the amount you pay.
The key figures at a glance
| Period | Rule according to the Bundestag | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Price corridor of 55 to 65 euros per tonne of CO2 | Adopted by the Bundestag on 15 October 2026; Bundesrat completion to be checked in the Federal Law Gazette |
| 2027 | CO2 price stays at the 2026 level | As described by the Bundestag, status 15 October 2026 |
| From 2028 | Start of the EU-wide emissions trading for buildings and transport with free market price formation | Described in the Bundestag text, no euro amount given |
The table shows what the Bundestag set out in its own documentation. It contains no amount per litre of heating oil or per kilowatt hour of gas. If you need figures for your own flat, the supplier’s bill is the place to find them.
What does 55 euros per tonne mean in cents per kilogram?
The conversion is simple and helps with understanding the figures. Assumption: the price sits at the lower end of the corridor at 55 euros per tonne. One tonne equals 1,000 kilograms, so one kilogram of CO2 costs 0.055 euros, or 5.5 cents. At the upper end of 65 euros per tonne, it is 6.5 cents per kilogram. How many kilograms of CO2 one litre of heating oil or petrol produces is a separate calculation that depends on the fuel. Only the two numbers together give the surcharge per litre.
What does the CO2 price mean for heating and fuel?
The CO2 price weighs on the fuel trade, and fuel prices also react to demand, world markets and exchange rates. The official text does not state a cent amount per litre or per kilowatt hour. The best place to find the actual surcharge is therefore your heating oil supplier’s invoice, your gas supplier’s price sheet or the petrol station receipt, which usually does not show the CO2 part separately.
You have no direct influence on how suppliers set prices. You can, however, influence your consumption and your contract. Our guide on reducing heating costs without structural work describes what tenants can do.
What changes for tenants from 2028?
For rented flats, the decisive question is how CO2 costs are shared between landlord and tenant. According to a press release from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, tenants and landlords are to share the carbon dioxide costs and gas network charges equally for newly installed heating systems from 1 January 2028. Details on grandfathering and transitional rules are explained in our guide on the building modernisation act for tenants.
Different rules apply to existing heating systems. Which ones exactly is not fully documented in the sources reviewed. If your landlord wants to pass on costs, check the tenancy agreement and the service charge statement. If something is unclear, the local tenants’ association is the right contact.
Step by step: how to check the effect on your costs
If you want to know how the CO2 price affects your spending in 2027, a fixed routine helps. The steps below need no specialist knowledge.
- Check whether your heating costs are billed according to consumption, and read the statement for a separately shown CO2 cost share.
- Note the price per unit that your supplier shows on the bill and compare it with the previous year.
- Use the corridor of 55 to 65 euros per tonne to calculate an upper limit for the pure CO2 share, and label the figure as an assumption.
- Check whether your advance payment still matches your consumption, and agree an adjustment with your supplier or landlord if necessary.
Frequently asked questions about the CO2 price 2027
Is the CO2 price for 2027 already binding?
The Bundestag has adopted the text. A law becomes binding once it is promulgated in the Federal Law Gazette and enters into force. According to the documents reviewed, the Bundesrat has dealt with the bill in a statement, but a final approval is not documented there. The current status is in the Federal Law Gazette or in the law text published by the Bundestag.
What does the corridor mean for the price per tonne?
The corridor sets a range. It means the price per tonne of CO2 should lie between 55 and 65 euros in 2027. The Bundestag text does not show a precise figure within that range, so a band is more useful for your own calculations than a single number.
Do I need to do anything in 2027?
There is no obligation for consumers to apply for anything in connection with the CO2 price. What matters is reading your statements and keeping an eye on advance payments. If you rent, also check the tenancy agreement for rules on how heating costs are passed on.
Can I see the CO2 price at the petrol station?
As a rule, the CO2 share of the price at the pump is not shown separately. It is included in the overall price. Anyone who wants to trace it has to work with assumptions about the fuel, and those assumptions should be marked as such.
Related guides
- Climate, energy and living costs 2027: the overview for tenants and students (hub for this topic)
- Climate money 2027: what is settled and what is still open
- Building modernisation act: what changes for tenants when heating
- Checking the heating cost statement: deadlines, distribution and typical errors
- Reducing heating costs: what tenants can do without renovation
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
