The UK's emission discrepancies has landed a date in Brussels in front of a European court.
The coal-fired Aberthaw plant in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, is currently operating under a permit allowing emissions of 1200mg of NOx per normal cubic metre (Nm3) – over twice the 500mg limit set out in Directive 2001/80/EC on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large combustion plants, also known as the LCP Directive.
Doug Parr, Greenpeace’s chief UK scientist commented: "It’s becoming increasingly clear that burning dirty coal is incompatible not just with our carbon reduction targets but with efforts to clean up our air too. The leaders of the next Government need to keep their promises and get on with the job of phasing out unabated coal within the next decade."
Whilst Aberthaw has been undergoing a number of investments and upgrades, the deadline to comply with the LCP Directive ended seven years ago, and "patience in Brussels ran out".
It is reportedly now "impossible" for Aberthaw to meet stricter power plants NOx emissions limits of 200mg, due to come into force next year under Directive 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions, a Commission spokesperson said.
Cedrec's take
This is rather embarrassing for us in the UK. The fight on climate change is one that needs to be taken by everyone, every continent. The responsibility of climate change lies with those who are the biggest polluters, and rightly so, the biggest polluters should aim to reduce that pollution or risk a fine. The UK being brought up in Brussels hopefully pushes the Government to make serious inroads to help upgrade sites such as Aberthaw.
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