UK ETS Allocation Table for operators of installations
Summary
DESNZ has updated the UK ETS free allocation table following Activity Level Change adjustments, with the 2021-2025 allocation period extended to cover 2026. The table sets installation-level free allowances for energy-intensive industry and, notably, some power-sector CHP and gas compressor stations. Several 2026 allocations step up materially (Tate & Lyle to 70,578 from 40,824; Humber Energy to 38,725 from 28,092) while others (CF Fertilisers Billingham) stay flat at 150,426 after earlier cuts.
Why it matters
Free allocation is a carbon leakage shield that keeps the UK ETS price from biting on tradeable-sector incumbents; the 2026 extension preserves that shield for another year while the second-stage 2027-2030 application runs. The visible carbon price understates the real signal facing covered installations, and the hidden cost sits with unallocated buyers and ultimately consumers through pass-through.
Key facts
- •Allocation period extended from 2021-2025 to 2021-2026
- •2026 allocations published per installation following Activity Level Changes
- •Second-stage application for 2027-2030 free allocation now open for those who filed stage one between 1 April and 30 June 2025
- •Installations moving to the 2026-2030 Hospital and Small Emitter or Ultra-Small Emitter list lose free allocation in 2026
- •New 2026 entrants use verified 2023 baseline data
Timeline
Areas affected
Related programmes
Memo
What the numbers show
DESNZ has published the updated UK ETS free allocation table covering 2021–2026, extending the first allocation period by one year. The extension means installations keep receiving free allowances on the same basis as 2021–2025 while the second-period application process (2027–2030) completes.
The headline is the Activity Level Change (ALC) adjustments for 2026, which produce some sharp movements. Tate & Lyle Sugars jumps to 70,578 allowances from 40,824 in 2025 — a 73% increase. Cargill's Port of Liverpool CHP rises to 49,040 from 39,157 (+25%). Humber Energy (Bring Energy) steps up to 38,725 from 28,092 (+38%). These are not policy changes; they reflect verified increases in production activity at these installations, which the ALC mechanism translates into higher free allocation.
At the other end, CF Fertilisers Billingham holds flat at 150,426 — itself a collapse from 878,500 in 2021, reflecting the near-shutdown of UK ammonia production after gas price spikes. SABIC Wilton continues its decline to 2,205 from a 2021 peak of 642,812. These are industrial exits showing up in the allocation data with a lag.
The table covers roughly 50 installations. National Gas Transmission's compressor stations collectively receive modest allocations (ranging from 8 to 4,300 per station), but their inclusion matters: these are gas transmission assets receiving carbon leakage protection, which tells you something about the UK ETS Authority's view of gas infrastructure optionality through the 2020s.
New entrants eligible for 2026 free allocation for the first time — including installations newly qualifying under changed electricity generator rules — have their allocations based on verified 2023 activity data. Installations that moved to the Hospital and Small Emitter or Ultra-Small Emitter lists lose their free allocation entirely.
Trends
Three patterns stand out across the 2021–2026 series.
Industrial contraction is baked in. The largest single-installation allocations have fallen dramatically. CF Fertilisers Ince disappeared from the table after 2022 (601,567 → 488,602 → zero). SABIC Wilton dropped 99.7% over five years. Runcorn Halochemicals fell from 26,898 to 11,278. These are not temporary dips. They represent permanent capacity closures in chemicals, fertilisers, and petrochemicals — sectors where UK gas prices made production uneconomic relative to continental or Middle Eastern competitors. The free allocation was supposed to prevent this. It did not, because the binding constraint was the input cost (gas), not the carbon cost.
Survivors are ramping up. The installations still operating are running harder. Tate & Lyle's 73% step-up, Cargill Liverpool's 25% increase, and Humber Energy's 38% jump all reflect higher verified activity. The ALC mechanism is working as designed here: production goes up, allocation follows. But this concentrates free allocation among fewer, larger operators — exactly the pattern Stigler's regulatory capture theory predicts.
The cross-subsidy is growing. Every free allowance given to an installation is one that must be purchased by someone else — typically power generators, who pass the cost through to consumers. As total UK ETS cap tightens (the cap falls annually), the share of allowances distributed for free to industry becomes a larger proportion of the shrinking total. The visible UK ETS auction price tells you the marginal cost. The free allocation table tells you who is exempt from it.
What to watch
The 2027–2030 application window is the real event. The second stage opened in 2025 and will set allocation benchmarks for the next four years. Any installation that failed to submit stage one (April–June 2025) is locked out. The Free Allocation Review response from November 2024 sets the new benchmark methodology — tighter benchmarks mean less free allocation per unit of output, which means the carbon price starts to bite harder on covered industry.
Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) interaction. The UK CBAM is due to start its transitional period. If it works, the carbon leakage justification for free allocation weakens. If free allocation persists alongside a functioning CBAM, the covered sector gets double protection — free allowances domestically plus border adjustment on imports. Treasury will notice.
Gas compressor station allocations signal policy intent. National Gas Transmission receiving free allowances for compressor stations implies the UK ETS Authority views these as leakage-exposed — which only makes sense if you believe gas transmission could relocate. It cannot. These allocations are small in volume but large in precedent: they suggest the boundary of "carbon leakage" is drawn generously.
The CF Fertilisers plateau at Billingham. Flat at 150,426 after falling from 878,500 suggests a new steady-state production level. If UK ammonia production stabilises here rather than closing entirely, this becomes the baseline for 2027–2030 — and a test case for whether the new benchmarks are set tight enough to drive further decarbonisation or loose enough to preserve what remains.
Source text3,572 words
13 April 2026 The allocation table has been updated with amendments to operators allowances as a result of Activity Level Changes. To reduce the risk of carbon leakage, operators covered by the UK Emissions Trading Scheme ( UK ETS ) with a valid application are provided with a free allocation of allowances. The Allocation Table contains a list of each installation’s free allocation for the 2021 to 2026 allocation period. This has replaced the 2021-2025 allocation table, following the UK ETS Authority’s announcement to extend the current allocation period to include 2026. To note on the 2026 scheme year: the 2026 scheme year is treated as an extension of the current allocation period for the purposes of determining the quantity of free allowances received by installations, subject to change through the activity level change process if your installation will receive FA for the first time in 2026, or your installation has sub-installations newly eligible to receive FA due to changes in rules for electricity generators, verified 2023 activity data submitted as part of the baseline data collection has been used to determine free allocation for the 2026 scheme year if you were in receipt of free allocation in 2021-2025 and have joined the 2026-2030 Hospital and Small Emitter or Ultra-Small Emitter list, you will not be in receipt of free allocation in 2026 for more information on the 2026 allocation period, please see the UK ETS Authority response to Moving the second UK ETS free allocation period To note on the 2027-2030 allocation period: the second stage of the application for free allocation for 2027-2030 is now open. You will only be required to complete the second stage if you submitted the first stage of your FA application between 1 April and 30 June 2025 the guidance on compliance with the requirements of this second stage of the application has been published . Please see the main response to the Free Allocation Review which was published in November 2024 Read more about how free allocation and the activity level change process works under the UK ETS . ### Sheet1 | | | | | New FA standard 2021 | New NER 2021 | New 2021 | New FA standard 2022 | New NER 2022 | New 2022 | New FA standard 2023 | New NER 2023 | New 2023 | New FA standard 2024 | New NER 2024 | New 2024 | New FA standard 2025 | New NER 2025 | New 2025 | New FA standard 2026 | New NER 2026 | New 2026 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Permit ID | Installation ID | Installation Name | Account Holder Name | (A) Allocation (Standard) 2021 | (B) Allocation (NER) 2021 | (C) Allocation (Total) 2021 | (A) Allocation (Standard) 2022 | (B) Allocation (NER) 2022 | (C) Allocation (Total) 2022 | (A) Allocation (Standard) 2023 | (B) Allocation (NER) 2023 | (C) Allocation (Total) 2023 | (A) Allocation (Standard) 2024 | (B) Allocation (NER) 2024 | (C) Allocation (Total) 2024 | (A) Allocation (Standard) 2025 | (B) Allocation (NER) 2025 | (C) Allocation (Total) 2025 | (A) Allocation (Standard) 2026 | (B) Allocation (NER) 2026 | (C) Allocation (Total) 2026 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-15145 | 1000172 | Humber Energy | BRING ENERGY LIMITED | 31310 | | 31310 | 30505 | | 30505 | 29701 | | 29701 | 28896 | | 28896 | 28092 | | 28092 | 38725 | | 38725 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11379 | 1000200 | Ravenhead Insulation Works | Knauf Insulation Ltd | 22483 | 153 | 22636 | 22483 | 153 | 22636 | 22483 | 153 | 22636 | 22483 | 153 | 22636 | 15291 | | 15291 | 15291 | | 15291 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-12036 | 1000753 | Tate and Lyle Sugars | T&L Sugars Limited | 45501 | | 45501 | 44332 | | 44332 | 43163 | | 43163 | 41994 | | 41994 | 40824 | | 40824 | 70578 | | 70578 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11395 | 1000155 | Car Body Paint & Die Casting | Honda of the UK Manufacturing Ltd | 4441 | | 4441 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11399 | 1000062 | Boulby Mine | Cleveland Potash Limited | 4811 | | 4811 | 5269 | | 5269 | 5706 | | 5706 | 4977 | | 4977 | 3924 | | 3924 | 3924 | | 3924 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11401 | 1000124 | Fawley Chemicals | ExxonMobil Chemical Limited | 201328 | | 201328 | 201328 | | 201328 | 201328 | | 201328 | 201328 | | 201328 | 201328 | | 201328 | 201328 | | 201328 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11402 | 1000119 | Esso Petroleum Company Limited | Esso Petroleum Company Limited | 1509112 | | 1509112 | 1235515 | | 1235515 | 1509112 | | 1509112 | 1509112 | | 1509112 | 1509112 | | 1509112 | 1509112 | | 1509112 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11406 | 1000053 | Rugby Works | CEMEX UK Cement Limited | 845036 | | 845036 | 845036 | | 845036 | 845036 | | 845036 | 845036 | | 845036 | 691425 | | 691425 | 691425 | | 691425 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11410 | 1000052 | South Ferriby Works | CEMEX UK Cement Limited | 169100 | | 169100 | 34406 | | 34406 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11416 | 1000179 | Wigton Boiler Plant | Innovia Films Limited | 10802 | | 10802 | 10524 | | 10524 | 10247 | | 10247 | 8121 | | 8121 | 7269 | | 7269 | 9095 | | 9095 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11419 | 1000239 | Bishop Auckland Compressor Station | National Gas Transmission Plc | 367 | | 367 | 1533 | | 1533 | 5745 | | 5745 | 5745 | | 5745 | 1401 | | 1401 | 1401 | | 1401 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11422 | 1000233 | Cambridge Compressor Station | National Gas Transmission PLC | 53 | | 53 | 294 | 333 | 627 | 294 | 333 | 627 | 294 | 177 | 471 | 294 | 177 | 471 | 471 | | 471 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11423 | 1000236 | Diss Compressor Station | National Gas Transmission PLC | 47 | | 47 | 731 | | 731 | 731 | | 731 | 8 | | 8 | 8 | | 8 | 8 | | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11424 | 1000234 | Hatton Compressor Station | National Gas Transmission PLC | 799 | | 799 | 4021 | | 4021 | 4266 | | 4266 | 689 | | 689 | 689 | | 689 | 689 | | 689 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11425 | 1000237 | Huntingdon Compressor Station | National Gas Transmission PLC | 1727 | | 1727 | 2149 | | 2149 | 2149 | | 2149 | 1099 | | 1099 | 1099 | | 1099 | 1099 | | 1099 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11426 | 1000238 | Churchover Compressor Station | National Gas Transmission PLC | 296 | 351 | 647 | 296 | 666 | 962 | 296 | 1650 | 1946 | 296 | 1501 | 1797 | 296 | | 296 | 296 | | 296 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11427 | 1000244 | Carnforth Compressor Station | National Gas Transmission PLC | 789 | | 789 | 378 | | 378 | 818 | | 818 | 2831 | | 2831 | 3030 | | 3030 | 3030 | | 3030 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11428 | 1000243 | Kings Lynn Compressor Station | National Gas Transmission Plc | 132 | | 132 | 653 | 549 | 1202 | 653 | 5634 | 6287 | 653 | 5634 | 6287 | 653 | 754 | 1407 | 1407 | | 1407 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11429 | 1000240 | Alrewas Compressor Station | National Gas Transmission PLC | 456 | | 456 | 601 | 116 | 717 | 601 | 1419 | 2020 | 601 | 2509 | 3110 | 601 | 938 | 1539 | 1539 | | 1539 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11430 | 1000247 | Aylesbury Compressor Station | National Gas Transmission Plc | 60 | | 60 | 60 | 150 | 210 | 60 | 150 | 210 | 60 | 150 | 210 | 60 | | 60 | 60 | | 60 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11431 | 1000245 | Chelmsford Compressor Station | National Gas Transmission PLC | 37 | | 37 | 37 | | 37 | 37 | | 37 | 37 | | 37 | 37 | | 37 | 37 | | 37 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11436 | 1000242 | Wooler Compressor Station | National Gas Transmission PLC | 141 | | 141 | 141 | | 141 | 36 | | 36 | 36 | | 36 | 36 | | 36 | 36 | | 36 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11437 | 1000246 | Wormington Compressor Station | National Gas Transmission Plc | 147 | 606 | 753 | 147 | 816 | 963 | 147 | 2407 | 2554 | 147 | 2407 | 2554 | 147 | 488 | 635 | 635 | | 635 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11438 | 1000241 | Wisbech Compressor Station | National Gas Transmission PLC | 9 | | 9 | 9 | | 9 | 9 | | 9 | 9 | | 9 | 9 | | 9 | 9 | | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11446 | 1000248 | Peterborough Compressor Station | National Gas Transmission PLC | 2743 | | 2743 | 4109 | | 4109 | 4462 | | 4462 | 3172 | | 3172 | 4300 | | 4300 | 4300 | | 4300 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11460 | 1000137 | Stevenage Site | GSK PLC | 2493 | | 2493 | 2493 | | 2493 | 2112 | | 2112 | 1986 | | 1986 | 2088 | | 2088 | 2088 | | 2088 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11461 | 1000136 | GlaxoSmithKline Ware | GSK PLC | 1658 | | 1658 | 1616 | | 1616 | 1573 | | 1573 | 1265 | | 1265 | 1126 | | 1126 | 1304 | | 1304 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-12027 | 1000058 | Ince Fertilizer Works | CF Fertilisers UK Limited | 601567 | | 601567 | 488602 | | 488602 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11469 | 1000343 | Syngenta Limited | Syngenta Limited | 6509 | | 6509 | 5953 | | 5953 | 6310 | | 6310 | 6139 | | 6139 | 5536 | | 5536 | 6442 | | 6442 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11487 | 1000029 | BMW (UK) Manufacturing Ltd | BMW (UK) Manufacturing Limited | 8509 | | 8509 | 7164 | | 7164 | 7879 | | 7879 | 6473 | | 6473 | 5757 | | 5757 | 5757 | | 5757 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11497 | 1000056 | Centrica Energy Storage Limited | Centrica Energy Storage Limited | 5540 | 6878 | 12418 | 5540 | 5460 | 11000 | 5540 | 8863 | 14403 | 5540 | 12725 | 18265 | 5540 | 15120 | 20660 | 20660 | | 20660 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-13630 | 1000415 | Hazlehead | Wavin Limited | 5997 | | 5997 | 6857 | | 6857 | 8569 | | 8569 | 5952 | | 5952 | 4209 | | 4209 | 4209 | | 4209 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-14274 | 1000076 | Cargill Bioindustrial UK Ltd | Cargill Bioindustrial UK Limited | 10507 | | 10507 | 10507 | | 10507 | 8841 | | 8841 | 5595 | | 5595 | 3424 | | 3424 | 3424 | | 3424 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-12582 | 1000033 | Briar Chemicals Limited | Briar Chemicals Limited | 1848 | 233 | 2081 | 1801 | 227 | 2028 | 1753 | 625 | 2378 | 1706 | 608 | 2314 | 1659 | 591 | 2250 | 2399 | | 2399 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11508 | 1000206 | Lhoist UK Limited | Lhoist UK Limited | 136774 | | 136774 | 136774 | | 136774 | 136774 | | 136774 | 136774 | 13772 | 150546 | 136774 | 13772 | 150546 | 150546 | | 150546 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-13255 | 1000169 | Imperial College London SK CHP | Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine | 2989 | | 2989 | 2912 | | 2912 | 2835 | | 2835 | 2759 | | 2759 | 1956 | | 1956 | 2411 | | 2411 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-14995 | 1000086 | Port of Liverpool CHP | Cargill PLC | 43642 | | 43642 | 42521 | | 42521 | 41399 | | 41399 | 40278 | | 40278 | 39157 | | 39157 | 49040 | | 49040 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11523 | 1000059 | Billingham Fertilizer Works | CF Fertilisers UK Limited | 876633 | 1867 | 878500 | 876633 | 2264 | 878897 | 649007 | | 649007 | 151645 | | 151645 | 150426 | | 150426 | 150426 | | 150426 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-12933 | 1000429 | Winnington Sodium Carbonate Manufacturing Site | Winnington CHP Limited | 17967 | 11336 | 29303 | 17506 | 16991 | 34497 | 17044 | 21624 | 38668 | 16582 | 24884 | 41466 | 16121 | 25345 | 41466 | 41466 | | 41466 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11540 | 1000091 | Eastham Refinery Limited | Eastham Refinery Limited | 28559 | | 28559 | 24943 | | 24943 | 23225 | | 23225 | 22191 | | 22191 | 24455 | | 24455 | 24455 | | 24455 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11546 | 1000395 | Port Sunlight Factory | Unilever UK Limited | 1906 | | 1906 | 1906 | | 1906 | 1906 | | 1906 | 1906 | | 1906 | 1906 | | 1906 | 1906 | | 1906 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11551 | 1000416 | Weetabix Limited | Weetabix Limited | 3748 | | 3748 | 3748 | | 3748 | 3748 | | 3748 | 3748 | | 3748 | 3748 | | 3748 | 3748 | | 3748 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11553 | 1000180 | Runcorn Halochemicals Manufacturing Installation | INOVYN ChlorVinyls Limited | 26898 | | 26898 | 26898 | | 26898 | 21492 | | 21492 | 12344 | | 12344 | 11278 | | 11278 | 11278 | | 11278 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11555 | 1000293 | Wilton Site | SABIC UK Petrochemicals Limited | 642812 | | 642812 | 278342 | | 278342 | 7512 | | 7512 | 5222 | | 5222 | 2205 | | 2205 | 2205 | | 2205 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-13705 | 1000000 | AAK (UK) | AAK International | 9815 | | 9815 | 9815 | 956 | 10771 | 9815 | 1583 | 11398 | 8930 | | 8930 | 8930 | | 8930 | 8930 | | 8930 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-13245 | 1000077 | D200 Energy Centre | D200 Energy Limited | 5945 | | 5945 | 4923 | | 4923 | 4426 | | 4426 | 4092 | | 4092 | 3711 | | 3711 | 5090 | | 5090 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-11564 | 1000356 | Tata Steel Shapfell | Tata Steel UK Limited | 144179 | | 144179 | 144179 | | 144179 | 136127 | | 136127 | 149834 | | 149834 | 123080 | | 123080 | 123080 | | 123080 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UK-E-IN-12065 | 1000075 | Croda Europe - Ditton | Croda Europe Ltd | 494 | | 494 | 379 | | 379 | 269 | | 269 | 269 | | 269 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |