What is a medium combustion plant or specified generator activity?
Do I need a medium combustion plant or specified generator activity permit?
Am I covered by a transitional period?
Can I qualify for a standard rule permit?
How long does a permit application take to process?
How can I get help and advice?
If you want to know more about the background to medium combustion plant or specified generator activity and our change of approach to permitting then, please read our consultation response.
These are burning or power generation activities that create air pollution, and may cause harm to human health and the environment. We need to control harmful emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and dust into the air.
Look below for a simple explanation of a medium combustion plant and specified generator. Or read the Medium Combustion Plant and Specified Generator guidance for full details.
This is any plant or equipment used to burn (combust) materials, including waste, with a rated thermal input between 1 and 50 megawatts.
These are any medium combustion plant used to generate electricity, on a site where the total (aggregated) megawatt thermal input is less than 50 megawatts. They are divided into Tranche A and Tranche B categories, depending on their operational start date or the type of electricity supply contract.
Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales are aware of the Court of Justice of the European Union’s judgment in the case brought by Tempus Energy against the European Commission in respect of the Commission’s State aid approval for the UK Capacity Market. BEIS have released two statements on their website about the judgment which can be found here. BEIS are working with the Commission to seek timely State aid approval for the Capacity Market.
As BEIS makes clear in its statement “the judgment removes State aid approval for the Capacity Market, preventing the UK Government from holding any capacity auctions or making any capacity payments under existing agreements until re-approval.
In so far as the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016 refer to agreements under the Capacity Market, the judgment does not impact upon these provisions as those agreements remain in place.
Please note we have recently issued a Regulatory Decision for the permitting of Tranche B Specified Generators, available below.
If you are already carrying out a medium combustion plant or specified generator activity, you may have some time before you need to comply with the new requirements.
If you operate under standard rule sets SR2009 No.4, SR2012 No.9, SR2012 No.10, SR2012 No.11 or SR2012 No.12, you can carry on operating under your current permit until the relevant transition period comes to an end. This is either 2024 or 2029.
If you want to start operating a new medium combustion plant or specified generator activity, you must apply for a new permit if you don’t have one already. Or apply to change your current permit, so that you can meet the new requirements.
If you’re unsure whether you can benefit from a transitional period, or which transitional period applies to you, please ask us for help.
We offer eight standard rule permit options for medium combustion plant or specified generator activities. If you can meet the criteria set out in the relevant rule set and accompanying generic risk assessment, you can benefit from a standard rule option.
If you can’t meet the criteria for a standard rule option, you must apply for a bespoke permit.
Please note we have reduced the screening distance to 5km to determine when an assessment is required of aerial emissions on Habitat’s sites from MCP/SG fired on natural gas or low-sulphur diesel.
When using fuels such as biogas and landfill gas the screening distance remains unchanged at 10 km.
You must also be confident that you can follow the guidance on how to comply with your environmental permit.
You must pay attention to the location and operating restrictions.
If you’re happy you can meet the requirements, you can apply for the standard rule permit using the application forms and guidance at the bottom of this page. Remember to also look at ‘Things to consider before you apply’.
If you cannot meet all the limitations and requirements, you will need to apply for a bespoke permit.
The application forms and guidance tell you what reports, plans, assessments and other information we need. Our environmental permit guidance documents will help you put these things together.
Make sure you read all relevant environmental permitting guidance on medium combustion plant or specified generator activities before you apply, and how to comply with your permit.
If you’re still not sure about whether you need a permit, or what you must do, we can help.
The application form guidance will help you. Please make sure you read it when filling out the forms. If you don’t send us all the information we need, it will take longer to assess your application.
The legal guide to assess standard rule applications and surrenders is three months. It is four months for bespoke applications, and two months to transfer the permit holder. It can take longer if we need to ask you for more information.
Time starts when we tell you we have all the information we need. The information we need is set out in the application forms and accompanying guidance.
Look at our service levels for more information on what you can expect from us.
Read the application form guidance before you fill out the forms. This will help you understand the information we need.
Read the relevant environmental permitting guidance on medium combustion plant or specified generator activities before you apply, and how to comply with your permit.
If you want more help, you can use our pre-application advice service. There may be a charge for this. You can talk to your permit compliance officer if you already have one. If you’re not sure who this is, or you don’t already have one, please get in touch with us.