Environmental Permit - Part A(1) Installation
Large combustion plant (50MW thermal input and above) and other major industrial installations require a Part A(1) environmental …
Energy & Utilities
Energy and utilities
UK-wide
Environmental Permit - Medium Combustion Plant
Medium combustion plant (MCP) with thermal input between 1MW and 50MW require an environmental permit from the Environment Agency.
Guide summary
You need an environmental permit if you operate a medium combustion plant (MCP) with a thermal input between 1 megawatt (MW) and 50 megawatts (MW), burning any fuel. Apply for a permit before your deadline: new plants need a permit before operating, existing plants by 1 January 2024 (5-50MW) or 1 January 2029 (1-5MW). You must meet limits on nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and dust, and send an annual report to the Environment Agency.
- Check if your plant is 1 to 50 megawatts thermal input
- New plants: get permit before you start operating
- Existing 5-50MW plants: deadline was 1 January 2024
- Existing 1-5MW plants: deadline is 1 January 2029
- Apply online through the Environment Agency system
- Pay the fee: between £155 and £2,233
- Set up monitoring for nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and dust
- Send annual returns to the Environment Agency each year
- Wait 2 to 4 months for permit processing
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What is a Medium Combustion Plant?
MCP is any combustion plant with a rated thermal input between 1MWth and 50MWth, burning any fuel. This includes:
- Combined heat and power (CHP) plants
- Backup generators
- Boilers and engines
- Gas turbines
Permit deadlines
Key compliance dates:
- New MCP (from Dec 2018): Permit required before operation
- Existing 5-50MWth: Permit required by 1 January 2024
- Existing 1-5MWth: Permit required by 1 January 2029
Emission limit values
MCP permits set limits for:
- Nitrogen oxides (NOx)
- Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
- Particulate matter (dust)
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1
Determine plant classification
Determine if your combustion plant is 1-50MWth thermal input
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2
Identify deadline
Identify whether plant is new or existing (affects deadline and requirements)
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3
Apply for permit
Apply for permit via Environment Agency online system
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4
Pay application fee
Pay application fee (varies by plant type and complexity)
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5
Implement monitoring systems
Implement emission monitoring and reporting systems
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6
Submit annual returns
Submit annual returns to Environment Agency