Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
(CHP power generation, diesel generators, electricity generators, steam generators)
If you produce energy or steam on your site and you have a generator, furnace or boiler with a rated thermal input above certain threshold levels, you will require a permit from your environmental regulator.
You will need a Part A pollution prevention and control (PPC) permit for:
You will need a Part C PPC permit for:
Part A is regulated by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and Part C is regulated by your district council.
Pollution prevention and control permits
You will need a Part A pollution prevention and control (PPC) permit for:
You will need a Part B PPC permit for:
Existing appliances with a rated thermal input of between 1 and 20 megawatts with have to obtain a PPC Part B permit by:
Pollution prevention and control permits
If you burn quantities of waste above certain limits you will need a PPC permit that complies with the Waste Incineration Directive.
You must have a consent from your local council under the Clean Air Act before you install a furnace or a fixed boiler on your site. Building regulations consent is not sufficient. You must be able to operate the furnace continually without emitting smoke when using the correct type of fuel.
Your chimney must be high enough to prevent smoke, grit, dust, gases and fume emissions damaging health or causing a nuisance. Your local council can refuse approval for a chimney that is not a sufficient height.
You must apply for chimney height approval from your local council if:
If your approval application is refused your local council will tell you the minimum chimney height you need.
Your local council can give conditional approval for your chimney. You may have restrictions on the rate and type of emissions. Emission rates are measured in kilograms per hour (Kg/hr).
If your use of the chimney changes you must re-apply for approval for the new emissions.
It is an offence to use a chimney without approval from your local council.
If you install a new boiler it must be able to run continuously without emitting smoke.
You must fit all boilers with grit and dust arrestment equipment. You can apply to your local council for an exemption, but this will only be granted if the boiler will not create emissions that could damage health or cause a nuisance.
For further information contact your local council or SEPA in Scotland.
You must not use gas oil with a sulphur content over 0.1% by mass.
You must not use heavy fuel oil with a sulphur content over 1% by mass.
If you have pre-1987 combustion equipment you can apply for a sulphur content of liquid fuels permit from SEPA in Scotland or from the Industrial and Radiochemical Inspectorate in Northern Ireland.
You must gain approval from either your environmental regulator or sewerage undertaker to discharge to surface waters, groundwater or foul sewers condensate from:
Consider the use of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems to increase efficiency and cut your bills
See our guidance on generating energy from waste
Process guidance notes are available which provide details of how your business is regulated for emissions to air. You can buy process guidance notes from the Stationery Office or download them from Defra.
The Stationery Office Bookshop
Defra: Process guidance notes (PG) notes
DAERA: Guidance on the Waste Incineration Directive
Scottish Government: Notification Direction - Energy from Waste
SEPA Special Waste Consignment Notes – updated position, The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is now accepting special waste consignment notes (SWCNs) by email only.
DAERA Waste Policy Tracker, The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has published a Waste policy tracker to stay informed of waste policy developments.
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