Assessing Biomass Feasibility

Legislation Details for Combustion

Introduction

Combustion in this case is intended by means of using woodchips as fuel. There is a good deal of applicable legislation.

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Applicable Legislation

Firstly it must be ascertained whether the plant is used or going to be used for combined heat and power. Biomass generation under the Renewables Obligation (RO) is defined by plant build since the beginning of 1990 which uses less than 2% of fossil fuels (this is mainly to allow the use of fossil fuels for cleaner ignition). Plants can also be retrofitted but this is not applicable in the case of Barony College.

The second stage must be to ascertain or confirm wood supply. This is a fluid issue at the moment. The SEPA interpretation of the EU Waste Framework Directive and Waste Incineration Directive states that wood (and particularly woodchips in this case), should not be considered waste if they are from virgin wood, not intended for disposal, and not required to be disposed of. Therefore new wood ‘off-cuts’ are not waste if there is an intention, ability and final outcome of energy use. This is the case in our project. Such wood supplies must be accredited by SEPA.

Finally there is the installation itself, and how it pertains to residues, emissions and to planning permissions. Such permissions and building warrants are necessary in the normal way: particular attention must be given to chimney heights, which are dependent partly on the size of the installation, and to Smoke Control Areas – so called ‘smoke free zones’ – specified under the Clean Air Act. Few technologies are available which are appropriate for installation in these areas; retrospective permissions are hard to come by. Barony College is not within a smoke control areas however.

The EU Air Quality Framework Directive and the Air Quality Limit Values (Scotland) ensure that emissions do not legally exceed prescribed values. Such emissions include SO2, NOx, fly-ash and associated small particulate matter of less than 10µm in size, known as PM10. Disposal of collected fly-ash as a product of small installation combustion is currently being investigated by SEPA. PM10 should not be an issue except when boilers are running at part load or are using fuel with excessive moisture content. This again is currently under investigation by SEPA. Other residues (ground ash etc.) are covered by the EU Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive; the intention should be to use Best Available Technology Not Entailing Excessive Cost (BATNEEC). SEPA should be contacted for further advice.

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Further Information

  1. Europa
  2. Scottish Executive
  3. Sepa

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Clarify Standpoint of Organisation
Quantify Demand Requirements
Assess Potential Biomass Supply within Local Area
Match Demand & Fuel Supply to Available/Suitable Technologies
Check Relevant Legislation
Apply for Funding