The Medium Combustion Plant Directive – Charges and Deadlines
Charges & Deadlines
The Environmental Permitting Regulations 2018 SI 110 were published in January 2018 to transpose the requirements of the Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD) EU/2015/2193 of 25th November 2015 and to control emissions from the operation of Specified Generators.
Within the Environmental Permitting Regulations, the requirements for Medium Combustion Plants (MCPs) are set out in Schedule 25A and for Specified Generators (SGs) in Schedule 25B. The Environment Agency is the sole regulator for these regulations in England. Medium Combustion Plants (MCPs) and Specified Generators (SGs) are a major source of air pollutants that may cause harm to human health and the environment. The Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD) sets out rules to control emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and dust into the air.
MCPD applies to all combustion plants with a rated thermal input equal to or greater than 1 MWth and less than 50 MWth regardless of the fuel type. An example of an MCP would be a boiler or a pump.
Specified Generators are any combustion plant which is used to generate electricity and is on a site aggregated to less than 50 MWth. An example of a Specified Generator would be a turbine, engine or combined heat and power (CHP).
Operators of MCP and Specified Generators that are in scope will require an environmental permit under schedule 25A and 25B of the Environmental Permitting Regulations.
Standard rules or simple/complex bespoke permits are available:
- Standard Rules Permits (SRP) contain defined environmentally protective conditions and represent a low cost option.
- Simple Bespoke Permits are similar to SRP but cater for operations that cannot satisfy all the SRP conditions applying to their site.
- Complex Bespoke Permits require the impacts on local air quality to be determined using detailed computer modelling.
Standard Rules Permit Charges
Standard Rules Permit Charges are shown in the table below:
|
Number of MCPs |
Application Charge |
Subsistence Charge |
Transfer Charge |
Surrender Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SR2018/7 – Stationary Medium Combustion Plant 1 < 20MW | ||||
|
1 |
£446.00 |
£194.00 |
£169.00 |
£125.00 |
|
Up to 3 |
£520.00 |
£256.00 |
£169.00 |
£125.00 |
|
Up to 5 |
£620.00 |
£342.00 |
£169.00 |
£125.00 |
|
Up to 8 |
£720.00 |
£394.00 |
£169.00 |
£125.00 |
|
Up to 10 |
£779.00 |
£520.00 |
£169.00 |
£125.00 |
|
Up to 15 |
£813.00 |
£620.00 |
£169.00 |
£125.00 |
|
SR2018/1/2/3/4/5/6/9 – Specified Generators |
||||
|
1 |
£221.00 |
£246.00 |
£169.00 |
£125.00 |
|
SR2018/8 – Mobile Plant Specified Generator |
||||
|
1 |
£221.00 |
£273.00 |
£169.00 |
£125.00 |
Bespoke Charges for Combustion and Power
Bespoke Charges for Combustion and Power are shown in the tables below:
|
Activity Reference 1.10.1 – Section 1.1 – Combustion Plant Rated => 50MWth |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Permit Application |
Minor Variation |
Normal Variation |
Substantial Variation |
Transfer Application |
Surrender Application |
|
£19,103.00 |
£5,731.00 |
£9,552.00 |
£17,193.00 |
£2,459.00 |
£11,462.00 |
|
Activity Reference 1.10.2 – MCP Site – Requires Dispersion Modelling |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Permit Application |
Minor Variation |
Normal Variation |
Substantial Variation |
Transfer Application |
Surrender Application |
|
£6,550.00 |
£1,965.00 |
£3,275.00 |
£5,895.00 |
£2,459.00 |
£3,930.00 |
|
Activity Reference 1.10.3 – MCP Site – Does Not Require Dispersion Modelling |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Permit Application |
Minor Variation |
Normal Variation |
Substantial Variation |
Transfer Application |
Surrender Application |
|
£2,028.00 |
£608.00 |
£1,014.00 |
£1,825.00 |
£2,459.00 |
£1,217.00 |
|
Activity Reference 1.10.4 – Carbon Capture & Storage |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Permit Application |
Minor Variation |
Normal Variation |
Substantial Variation |
Transfer Application |
Surrender Application |
|
£14,915.00 |
£4,474.00 |
£7,458.00 |
£13,423.00 |
£2,459.00 |
£8,949.00 |
Significant Dates
This year there are two significant dates which operators need to be aware of:
- 20/12/2018 – New MCPs which operate on or after 20th December 2018 must be permitted and comply with the Emission Limit Values (ELVs)
- 01/01/2019 – Tranche B Specified Generators must be permitted and comply with Emission Limit Values (ELVs)
If you have new MCPs which operate on or after 20th December 2018 or Tranche B generators please review the permitting application deadlines shown below:
|
Date |
Definition |
|---|---|
|
20/12/2018 |
New MCPs must be permitted, emissions tested within four months of permit issue and comply with Emission Limit Values (ELVs). |
|
01/01/2019 |
Tranche B generators must be permitted and comply with standard permit conditions. |
|
01/10/2019 |
Tranche A 5-50MW generators with emissions above 500mg/m3 (15% O2) which operate for more than 50h per annum must be permitted. |
|
01/01/2024 |
Existing MCPs above 5MW must apply for a permit and test emissions within four months of permit issue. |
|
01/01/2025 |
All existing plant above 5MW must comply with MCPD ELVs Remaining Tranche A 5-50MW generators must be permitted. |
|
01/01/2029 |
Existing MCPs 5MW and below must apply for a permit and test emissions within four months of permit issue. |
|
01/01/2030 |
Existing MCPs 5MW and below must comply with ELVs Tranche A 1-5MW and sub 1 MW generators must be permitted. |
The terms MCP and SG are contained within the regulations where you can find a set of explanatory definitions, guidance documents and permitting application forms.
