UK ETS Auctions and Secondary Market Participation Guide
Summary
DESNZ has published updated guidance on participating in UK Emissions Trading Scheme markets, including auction procedures and secondary market trading. The Auction Reserve Price was adjusted from £22 to £28 effective for the April 8, 2026 auction. Cost Containment Mechanism trigger prices and average monthly prices are updated regularly. The guidance provides background on UK ETS markets and links to related scheme participation information.
What changed
The guidance document has been updated to reflect the adjusted Auction Reserve Price from £22 to £28 following inflation-linked legislation laid in March 2026. This new £28.00 value applies to auctions from April 8, 2026 onward. Regular updates to Cost Containment Mechanism trigger prices and average monthly prices continue as part of routine market monitoring.
Affected participants in UK ETS auctions and secondary trading should note the increased reserve price when planning auction participation strategies. Operators and aircraft operators should consult the companion guidance on participating in the UK ETS scheme alongside this market participation guide.
What to do next
- Review UK ETS auction participation procedures
- Monitor updated Auction Reserve Price of £28
- Track Cost Containment Mechanism figures
Archived snapshot
Apr 15, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Guidance
Taking part in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme markets
This guidance explains the operation of the UK ETS markets and how to take part in auctions and in trading on the secondary market.
From: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Published 17 December 2020 Last updated 14 April 2026
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Documents
Taking part in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme markets
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Cost Containment Mechanism (CCM) trigger prices and average monthly prices: full tables
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Details
This guidance explains the operation of the UK ETS markets and how to take part in auctions and in trading on the secondary market.
For background information on the UK ETS markets, see the UK Emissions Trading Scheme markets policy page.
For general guidance on participating in the scheme as an installation operator or aircraft operator, see Participating in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme.
Updates to this page
Published 17 December 2020 Last updated 14 April 2026 show all updates
1.
14 April 2026
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
2.
8 April 2026
The Auction Reserve Price (ARP) value has been adjusted to reflect inflation, from £22 to £28.
3.
10 March 2026
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
4.
5 March 2026
Auction reserve price legislation has been laid, and the £28.00 value will come into effect for the April 8 2026 auction.
5.
10 February 2026
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
6.
12 January 2026
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
7.
11 December 2025
Added link to 2026 auction calendar.
8.
10 December 2025
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
9.
4 December 2025
Note added about future update to the 2026 ARP value.
10.
10 November 2025
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
11.
10 October 2025
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
12.
11 August 2025
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
13.
10 July 2025
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
14.
10 June 2025
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month. 'Taking part in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme markets' has been updated to include further links to existing references, and to remove outdated information on previous auctions. The ICE email contact has been amended.
15.
12 May 2025
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
16.
10 April 2025
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
17.
10 March 2025
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
18.
10 February 2025
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
19.
10 January 2025
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
20.
10 December 2024
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
21.
11 November 2024
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
22.
25 October 2024
ICE has published the 2025 auction calendar.
23.
10 October 2024
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
24.
10 September 2024
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
25.
12 August 2024
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
26.
10 July 2024
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
27.
10 June 2024
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
28.
10 May 2024
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
29.
10 April 2024
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
30.
11 March 2024
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
31.
12 February 2024
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
32.
10 January 2024
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
33.
2 January 2024
Added link to UK Emissions Trading Scheme: future markets policy consultation.
34.
11 December 2023
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
35.
10 November 2023
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
36.
10 October 2023
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
37.
5 October 2023
ICE has published the 2024 auction calendar.
38.
11 September 2023
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
39.
5 September 2023
ICE has today published a revised auction calendar which takes account of the updated Aviation operators’ free allocation entitlements figure.
40.
14 August 2023
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
41.
27 July 2023
Added link to joint report from the UK ETS Authority: Functioning of the UK carbon market for 2021 and 2022.
42.
10 July 2023
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
43.
12 June 2023
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
44.
10 May 2023
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
45.
12 April 2023
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
46.
10 March 2023
CCM figures updated for latest month.
47.
10 February 2023
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
48.
10 January 2023
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
49.
13 December 2022
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
50.
10 November 2022
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
51.
10 October 2022
Updated 3-month Cost Containment Mechanism prices; added 6-month monitoring period table.
52.
20 September 2022
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
53.
10 August 2022
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
54.
11 July 2022
Cost Containment Mechanism figures updated for latest month.
55.
10 June 2022
Published the latest monthly update on the scheme's Cost Containment Mechanism (CCM).
56.
10 May 2022
Published the latest monthly update on the scheme's Cost Containment Mechanism (CCM).
57.
11 April 2022
Published the latest monthly update on the scheme's Cost Containment Mechanism (CCM).
58.
10 March 2022
Published the latest monthly update on the scheme's Cost Containment Mechanism (CCM).
59.
18 February 2022
New page created taking content from the Participating in the UK ETS page.
60.
17 December 2020
First published.
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