Restrictions on air pollution from combustion plants and
generators were passed by parliament this week, as the
government continues to take action against poor air
quality.
Air pollution is the biggest environmental risk to public
health in the UK, and currently unregulated medium sized
combustion plants (MCPs) and generators, commonly used to
heat hospitals, hotels, offices, prisons and other large
buildings as well as powering some industries, are a
significant source of pollution.
A statutory instrument was debated and passed in the house
of Commons and House of Lords on Monday and will come into
force shortly, implementing a new Medium Combustion Plant
Directive.
However, the government is going even further by
introducing additional domestic emission controls on
generators to tackle pollution from small scale, flexible
generators which not covered by the Directive but are
highly polluting and have been increasingly used in recent
years.
The new regulations are expected to provide 43% of the
sulphur dioxide emissions reduction, 9% of the reduction
for particulate matter, and 22% of the nitrogen oxides
emissions reduction needed to meet the UK’s 2030 targets.
Environment Minister said:
Air pollution has improved significantly since 2010, but
we recognise there is more to do which is why we have put
in place a £3.5billion plan to improve air quality and
reduce harmful emissions.
These regulations will help deliver further substantial
reductions in emissions, while minimising the impact on
energy security and costs to businesses. Poor air quality
affects public health, the economy, and the environment,
which is why we are determined to do more, and later this
year we will publish a comprehensive clean air strategy
which will set out further steps to tackle air pollution.
These regulations will require new medium combustion plants
to reduce emissions from 20 December 2018 and existing
medium combustion plants from 2025 or 2030, depending on
their size - larger plants must comply sooner than smaller
plants.
Additionally, newer generators will need to comply with a
nitrogen oxides emissions limit from 1st January 2019.
Older generators, operating prior to December 2016, and
those providing certain services to the National Grid will
need to comply from a later date, depending on their size,
emissions, operating hours, duration of their agreements
with National Grid and whether they sign up to new
agreements.
Dr Penny Woods, chief executive of the British Lung
Foundation, said:
Breathing in toxic pollutants increases all our chances
of getting lung cancer, it can worsen symptoms for people
who have a lung condition and it can stunt the growth of
children’s lungs. We therefore welcome these restrictions
on generators that will see a reduction in the invisible
but deadly pollutants harming our health.
We need action on all sources of pollution, from traffic
emissions to generators, if we are truly going to clean
up the air in our towns and cities.
