Abstract Title: | MCPD and the already regulated sector |
Presenter Name: | Dr Stewart Davies |
Company/Organisation: | Head of Technical Compliance, Viridor & Chair-Elect of the Source Testing Association |
Country: | United Kingdom |
Abstract Information :
MCPD (and Specified Generators Regulations) are intended to improve air quality, primarily in response to concerns around ambient concentrations of NOx and particulate matter along with a growth in the prevalence of unregulated medium-scale combustion activities.
MCPD requires that in scope plant must be registered/permitted, with ELVs set depending upon the technology, fuel, size and age. Estimates of the number of previously unregulated MCPs captured varies significantly and is in the order of tens of thousands in the UK. There are however a significant number of MCPs operating in the UK that are already regulated due to their association or link to activities listed within Chapter II of IED (2010).
The waste industry, especially in the landfill gas (LFG) and more recently anaerobic digestion (AD) have operated MCPs under regulatory oversight for decades. These activities have been a major source of renewable electricity in the UK and continue to provide an useful contribution to UK renewable energy generation. In 2016, LFG and AD generation contributed ~880 MW (~10%) of renewable energy in the UK.
MCPD and SGR captures already-regulated LFG and AD activities and any new interpretation of these additional regulations has the potential to fundamentally impact an existing fleet of over 1000 LFG/AD MCPs, including the economic viability of existing projects.
This talk will explore the key industry concerns such as: the definition of LFG and AD gases as biogases and impact on SO2 ELV compliance; how established and common industry practices such are relocation of MCPs are to be handled under any revised regime; the impact of cessation of the primary Chapter II activity and re-classification of an activity; and the process of updating/revising permits.