Atmospheric pollution: large combustion plants, limitation of emissions (amend. direct. 88/609/EEC)

PURPOSE : to limit polluting emissions from large combustion plants. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Directive 2001/80/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the limitation of pollutants into the air from large combustion plants. CONTENT : This Directive will replace the current Directive 88/609/EEC, which was scheduled for revision in the context of the EU strategy to combat acidification. It establishes new and safer limits on emissions for three of the principal pollutants: nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and dust. The Directive applies to all existing and new large combustion installations with nominal thermal power of 50 megawatts or more, irrespective of the fuel used, whether that be solid, liquid or gas. This Directive encourages cogeneration, and establishes emissions limits for using biomass as fuel. Operators of existing installations must commit themselves not to run their plants for more than 20000 hours between January 1 2008 and December 31 2015. Operators must present a written declaration to the competent authority by June 30 2004. Plants with a nominal thermal power of 400 MW or more, with annual usage below 2000 hours until 1 January 2016 and 1500 hours from that date will be subject to a limit ceiling of 800 mg/Nm3 of SO2 emissions. The Directive also specifies the emissions limit for SO2 in relation to solid fuels, including biomass, for liquids and gas, for SO2 and the limits for dust emissions. The new NOx limit will apply to old and new plants from 2016 but plants operating at peak times only will be exempt from it. Anthracite power plants will have to apply it from 2018. ENTRY INTO FORCE : 27/11/01.�