What you need to know about the Medium Combustion Plant Directive

Coming into force on 19th December 2017, the Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD – 2015/2193) is one of the most significant items of energy generation legislation published in recent years. It’s a key part of the EU’s air quality agenda and sets new emission parameters for plants with a thermal input between 1 MW to 50 MW.

From electricity generation to domestic heating, cooling to providing heat/steam for industrial processes, combustion plants play an important part in meeting our energy needs.  However, with roughly 143,000 medium-sized plants in the EU, they’re also a significant source of emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and dust. The MCPD looks to tackle this, aiming to reduce the impacts of pollution on human health.

Under the Directive, member states will be legally required to establish effective inspections to check plant emission limits (likely to be both under a scheduled and random testing regime). The emission limits for each particulate can be found here.

Introducing new regulations across 28 member states, with over 143,000 plants, is inevitably going to be problematic, particularly given that many of those plants have very different generation solutions (such as aggregated combustion units).  Indeed, there has already been criticism of the MCPD in its failure to explain assessment and reporting methods. With these issues yet to be settled and potential clashes between industry and regulators, expect this particular air quality debate to be far from over.

Understanding the intricacies and implications of the MCPD can seem confusing. However, as the UK’s leading environmental communications and marketing consultancy, Prova has the detailed knowledge to help you spot the opportunities for growth within the Directive, for both operators and suppliers.

To find out how we can help, call Simon Ward, Head of Environment, on 01926 776 900 or email simonw@provapr.co.uk