Energy Intensive Industries Compensation Scheme
The Energy Intensive Industries (EII) Compensation Scheme is a UK government subsidy scheme to help industries like steel, chemicals, and paper, with high electricity usage to remain competitive. It provides financial relief on high energy prices caused by carbon emissions taxes, namely the UK ETS and Carbon Price Support.
Its purpose has been to prevent "carbon leakage" (businesses moving overseas) and protect against high indirect carbon costs, with high energy intensity industries being eligible, primarily manufacturing sectors such as steel, glass, wood, paper, metal production/casting, plastics, and chemicals.
Companies or businesses must pass a 20% electricity intensity test (so mean electricity costs must be at least 20% of their Gross Value Added) and they must obtain an EII certificate, which is then passed to the electricity supplier. Once eligible key measures of support might include: 100% Exemption from costs associated with Contracts for Difference (CfD), Renewables Obligation (RO), Feed-in Tariffs (FIT), and the Capacity Market., 60% Compensation for network charging costs (grid usage), relief for costs associated with the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and Carbon Price Support (CPS).
See Energy Intensive Industries (EIIs): Guidance for applicants seeking a certificate for an exemption from the indirect costs of funding Contracts for Difference (CFD), the Renewables Obligation (RO), the small-scale Feed in Tariff (FIT), and GB Capacity Market (CM) and Form: Compensation for the indirect costs of the UK ETS and the CPS mechanism: guidance for applicants Updated 17 December 2025
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- A zero-carbon UK by 2050?
- Black carbon.
- Blue carbon.
- Biogenic carbon.
- Biologic carbon sequestration.
- Carbon capture.
- Carbon cycle.
- Carbon dioxide.
- Carbon emissions.
- Carbon intensity.
- Carbon sequestration.
- Carbon.
- Embodied energy in construction
- Energy balancing.
- Energy Intensive Industries Compensation Scheme.
- Energy supply.
- Energy white paper.
- Geologic carbon sequestration.
- Generation nuclear.
- Net zero and green jobs.
- Net zero carbon 2050.
- Organisations prompt government to Build Back Green.
- Power generation.
- Renewable energy.
- The Government's 10-point plan: what's missing?
Featured articles
Check out some of the best features and news from Designing Buildings as well as key stories from around the web.
Accommodating the Victorian and Edwardian working woman. Book review.
Rethinking passive fire protection in design
PFP demands the same level of design rigour as structure or services.
38% of Gen Zs feel safe when a fire door is wedged open.
Stunning images from around the world
Shortlist for CIOB’s Art of Building photography competition.
Guidance for conversion of traditional pre-1919 stone buildings.
Industrial heritage in the Ruhr
A marked difference to the fate of industrial landscapes in the UK.
Communities will be able to build their own clean energy.
Why diversity and inclusion matters for SMEs
CIOB’s D&I Charter shows how practical changes can support long-term growth.
Cut electricity bills to power growth
Coalition sends joint letter to the Chancellor.
Gasholders: a history in pictures. Book review.
Recognition, influence and growth
SocEnv identifies three strategic pillars in new strategy to 2045.
Discover the future of roofing, cladding and insulation.

















