Environmental Controls: Directives and Regulations

Burning fossil fuels, such as coal, gas and oil, in our power stations produces carbon dioxide (CO₂), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and dust particulates.

There are several key regulations in place to control the levels of these emissions, including Pollution Prevention and Control and the Large Combustion Plant Directive (LCPD). The LCPD came into effect on 1 January 2008 and sets limits for the amount of sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and dust particulates that each coal or oil-fired plant can emit. All of our coal and oil-fired power stations in the UK have complied by either ‘opting in’ and meeting these limits or ‘opting out’ and reducing their operating time and life span.

The Pollution Prevention and Control Act (1999) and the Environmental Permitting Regulations (2010), mean that each of our power stations has to have a ‘permit to operate’, issued by our regulator, the Environment Agency. In addition to setting limits for emissions to air and water, the permit has requirements for a range of environmental issues including energy efficiency, use of raw materials and waste management. It also sets out how we should monitor and report on our environmental performance. We work closely with the Environment Agency through a programme of regular visits to ensure compliance and continuous improvement in our environmental management.

We also have rigorous Environmental Management Systems (EMS) in place, which meet the requirements of ISO 14001:2004. These are the foundations for our strong environmental performance, helping us ensure we meet our targets.

Industrial Emissions Directive (IED)

The Industrial Emissions Directive, which combines seven existing European directives controlling industrial emissions into one new directive and significantly revises two of the existing directives (the Large Combustion Plant Directive and the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive), has now entered into force. It changes the way that existing power stations will be regulated after 2015 and new power stations from 2013.

The Government must now transpose the European Directive into UK regulation and this process will be completed by January 2013. We are working with Government to ensure that the implications for power plant regulation of the IED are clearly understood. We are also engaged in discussions with the Environment Agency about the implications of the IED for the permitting of power plant in the future.