Where an operator claims that applying a specific determination methodology incurs unreasonable costs, the competent authority shall assess the unreasonable nature of the costs, taking into account the operator's justification.
The competent authority shall consider costs unreasonable where the operator's cost estimation exceeds the benefit of a specific determination methodology. To that end, the benefit shall be calculated by multiplying an improvement factor with a reference price of EUR 20 per allowance and costs shall include an appropriate depreciation period based on the economic lifetime of the equipment, where applicable.
The improvement factor shall be 1 % of the most recently determined sub-installation's annual allocation free of charge. By way of derogation from this calculation method, the competent authority may allow operators to determine the improvement factor as 1 % of the affected CO2 equivalent. The affected CO2 equivalent shall be one the following, depending on the parameter for which the improvement of methodology is considered:
In the case of a fuel or material containing carbon, including waste gases, the emissions that would result if the carbon contained in the annual quantity of the fuel or material were converted into CO2;
In the case of emissions monitored by a measurement-based methodology, the annual emissions of the respective emission source;
In the case of measurable heat, the respective annual amount of measurable heat multiplied by the heat benchmark;
In the case of non-measurable heat, the respective annual amount of non-measurable heat multiplied by the fuel benchmark;
In the case of electricity, the respective annual amount of electricity multiplied by the factor specified in Article 22(3);
In the case of the quantity of a product for which a product benchmark applies, the sub-installation's preliminary annual number of emission allowances allocated free of charge determined in accordance with Article 16(2) for the first year of the respective allocation period. Where the relevant benchmark has not yet been determined in accordance with Article 10a(2) of Directive 2003/87/EC, the respective benchmark specified in Annex I to this Regulation shall be used.
Measures relating to the improvement of an installation's monitoring methodology shall not be deemed to incur unreasonable costs up to an accumulated amount of EUR 2 000 per year. For installations with low emissions in accordance with Article 47 of Regulation (EU) No 601/2012 that threshold shall be EUR 500 per year.