Paragraph 13 Emissions monitoringF1

(1)

SEPA must ensure that an authorisation for operating a medium combustion plant includes such conditions as it considers appropriate in an authorisation for a medium combustion activity to ensure that—

(a)

where the plant is using more than one fuel type, emissions are monitored—

(i)

while the fuel or fuel mix likely to result in the highest level of emissions is being fired, and

(ii)

during a period, representative of normal operating conditions,

(b)

all monitoring results are recorded and processed so as to enable verification of compliance with the applicable emission limit values,

(c)

a record or information is kept proving the effective continuous operation of any secondary abatement equipment in use at the plant,

(d)

the following are kept—

(i)

the authorisation and, where relevant, variations and related information,

(ii)

the monitoring results and information referred to in sub-paragraphs (b) and (c),

(iii)

a record of the plant’s operating hours if applicable for the purposes of paragraph 9(1) or 10(3),

(iv)

a record of the type and quantities of fuel used in the plant,

(v)

a record of any breakdown or malfunction of secondary abatement equipment,

(vi)

a record of a breach of an emission limit value, and the measures taken by the authorised person to restore compliance,

(e)

the information referred to in head (d)(ii) to (vi) is kept for a period of at least 6 years.

(2)

Emissions are to be measured—

(a)

for medium combustion plants with a rated thermal input equal to or greater than 1 MW and less than or equal to 20 MW, at least every three years,

(b)

for all other medium combustion plants, annually,

unless sub-paragraph (3) applies.

(3)

This paragraph applies where a medium combustion plant is—

(a)

exempt from the requirements of paragraph 8(1) or (2) by paragraph 9(1) of this schedule, or

(b)

exempt from the requirements of paragraph 8(3) by paragraph 10(3) of this schedule.

(4)

Where sub-paragraph (3) applies, emissions must be measured at the most frequent of—

(a)

for a medium combustion plant with a rated thermal input equal to or greater than 1 MW and less than or equal to 20 MW, after the elapse of three times the maximum permitted average annual operating hours,

(b)

for medium combustion plants with a rated thermal input greater than 20 MW, after the elapse of a period equal to the maximum average annual operating hours

and in either case, measurements must be taken at least every five years.

(5)

The following emissions are to be measured—

(a)

pollutants for which an emission limit value is included in this schedule relevant to the plant concerned, and

(b)

carbon monoxide.

(6)

The first measurement of emissions is taken within 4 months of either—

(a)

the grant of the authorisation,

(b)

the date of the start of operation of the plant.

(7)

Where verified and approved of by SEPA, as an alternative to the requirements of sub-paragraphs (2) and (4), other procedures may be used to determine SO₂ emissions from the plant.

(8)

Where emissions are required by SEPA to be measured continuously—

(a)

the measuring systems must be subject to checking by means of parallel measurements with the reference methods at least annually, and

(b)

results of the check are to be provided to SEPA.

(9)

Measurements must be taken when—

(a)

the plant is operating under stable conditions at a representative even load, and

(b)

the plant is not starting-up or shutting down.

(10)

Sampling and analysis of polluting substances and measurements of process parameters are to be based on methods enabling reliable, representative and comparable results.

(11)

Periods of start-up and shut-down are as short as possible.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Sch. 27 inserted (1.11.2025) by The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (S.S.I. 2025/165), reg. 1(2), sch. 18 (with sch. 23)