Massimiliano Salini· PPE

Nuanced

The ETS (Emissions Trading System) adds 25 euros per megawatt hour to the cost of energy.

Omissions

• The 25 EUR/MWh figure is an approximate estimate that depends on the prevailing carbon price, which fluctuates significantly (ranging from approximately €60-€90 per tonne in 2024-2025).
• The ETS impact varies by country and electricity generation mix. According to Econopolis analysis from February 2026, the impact on final power prices ranges from 0.2% to 21.4% depending on the country.
• The ETS impact is higher for fossil fuel-based generation (especially coal and gas) and zero for renewable generation.
• Carbon costs represented approximately 37.5% of wholesale electricity prices in December 2025 according to Ember data, which at typical wholesale prices of €80-100/MWh would translate to 30-38 EUR/MWh.
• The source found (Econopolis) was published in February 2026, which is after the session date of February 11, 2026, though it references data from before that date.

Sources

• SecondaryEconopolis - Three maps to show the impact of ETS on European power pricesImpact of ETS on final power prices in EU ranges from 0.2% to 21.4%. For Belgium specifically, ETS impact is between 2.8% and 4.3% of final electricity prices.
• SecondaryDavid Turver Substack - Carbon Costs Driving Up Electricity PricesCarbon costs made up 37.5% of the wholesale price of electricity in December 2025, based on daily data from Ember.