Will the Medium Combustion Plant Directive affect you?

This legislation regulates the emissions of Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂), Nitrogen Oxides (NOₓ) and particulates. The emission limit values under the MCP Directive depend on the size of the plant and are applied from 20 December 2018 for new plants, by 1 January 2025 for existing 5–50 MW plants, and by 1 January 2030 for existing 1–5 MW plants. Operation of such plants is only allowed when registered or permitted by the relevant authority: the Environment Agency (EA) in England, Natural Resources Wales in Wales, or the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in Scotland.

Information such as rated thermal input (MW), type of medium combustion plant, sector of activity (NACE Code), expected annual operating hours, and proposed emission limits is required as part of the operator notification or permit application, along with a signed declaration that the plant will operate in accordance with the imposed limits.

There are some exclusions from the MCP Directive. For instance, plants subject to the Industrial Emissions Directive for waste incineration; plants where the gaseous products of combustion are used for direct heating, drying, or treatment of objects or materials; post-combustion plants purifying industrial process gases that are not operated independently; and any technical apparatus used in the propulsion of vehicles, ships, or aircraft. It is therefore important to establish if the MCP Directive applies to your situation.

For operators, emissions measurements of the relevant pollutants are generally required: within three months of registration or permit issue, and thereafter annually for plants above 20 MW and every three years for plants below 20 MW, unless a permit specifies otherwise. Monitoring is typically expected to meet international standards, potentially under the MCERTS scheme for air emissions operated by the EA. Operators exceeding limits must take action, such as changing fuels or installing abatement measures. The MCP Directive is fully transposed into UK law, and more detailed guidance is available from the regulators.

If you have any concerns or questions about any of the above, or would like support to ensure your compliance, please don’t hesitate to call us on 0800 6127 567, email info@jrpsolutions.com or book a call back through our website.