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  • One or more electricity generators with combined thermal input of more than 1 megawatt

One or more electricity generators with combined thermal input of more than 1 megawatt

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This activity applies to burning any fuel in combustion plant which generate electricity on the same site with an aggregated rated thermal input of 1MW or more.

One or more electricity generators with combined input of more than 1MW is a new regulated activity made law in the Environment Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (EASR). This activity has a ‘sunrise date’ of 1 January 2029; this means that it will not be regulated by SEPA until this date. More information on how and when to apply will be provided prior to the new activity being regulated.

This activity is found in Schedule 26 Part 3 Paragraph 1 of the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations.  

If you burn fuel in any individual combustion plant with a net rated thermal input of 1MW or more, you are likely to require a permit. Read medium combustion plant for more information. 

Authorisation level

Registration

Fit and Proper Person tests

Fit and Proper Person tests apply to this activity. You will be asked in your application if you have any relevant convictions held by you or any additional persons.  

Read more about Fit and Proper Person tests

Standard conditions

Your registration application will only be granted if you can confirm you are able to comply with the standard conditions set out below.

If you carry on an activity under a registration authorisation you must comply with the standard conditions. It is an offence if you do not comply with the conditions.

SEPA will not authorise this activity if it poses an unacceptable risk to the environment.

  1. All reasonable steps must be taken to minimise emissions during start up and shut-down of the process.
  2. All releases to the air from the authorised activities, other than condensed water vapour, during normal operation must be free from visible emissions.
  3. Emissions of substance(s) to the air from the combustion plant must not exceed the relevant emission limit value specified in Table 1.
  4. Air must not be added to dilute emissions in order to achieve emission limit values specified in Table 1.
  5. The emission of any other substance, not specified in Table 1 from the combustion plant must not cause environmental harm.

    Table 1. Emissions limit values from combustion plant

    Substance Emission Limit Value (mg/m3)
    Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) 190
  6. Monitoring must be undertaken at the combustion plant stack(s) at the sample port, frequency and using the monitoring standard as specified in Table 2.
  7. Monitoring must be undertaken during normal operation when combustion plant is:
    1. operating under stable conditions at a representative even load;
    2. not undergoing start-up or shut-down; and
    3. for dual fuel or fuel mix plants, when firing the fuel or fuel mix, likely to result in the highest level of emissions.
  8. Sample locations must be provided, maintained and appropriately identified so that representative samples of emissions may be safely obtained.
  9. The first monitoring of emissions must be undertaken within four months from the start of operation of the authorised activities.

    Table 2. Monitoring requirements for emissions to air from combustion plant

    Substance Emission Point Reference Monitoring frequency Monitoring standard
    Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) Sample port determined in accordance with BS EN 15259 Once every 3 years BS EN 14792
  10. SEPA must be notified via its pollution hotline contact telephone number as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case within 24 hours of identification of an event, of any of the following:
    1. an event that has caused or could cause adverse impact to the environment or harm to human health;
    2. an event that results, or could result, in an emission to the environment that is not authorised; and
    3. an event that has caused a breach of a condition of this authorisation.

      In this condition, the meaning of ‘event’ is as defined in the Glossary of Terms.

  11. All measures that are reasonably practicable must be taken to stop an event and to minimise its effect on the environment.
  12. Within 14 days of an event a report must be submitted to SEPA detailing:
    1. the reason(s) for the event;
    2. the action(s) taken to stop the event and minimise the impacts; and
    3. the action(s) taken to prevent the event from reoccurring.
  13. All information recorded, kept or submitted to SEPA in accordance with a condition of this authorisation must be:
    1. true and accurate; and
    2. kept for a minimum of six year; and
    3. provided to SEPA upon request.
  14. Records must be kept of the following:
    1. the type and quantity of fuel used;
    2. number of hours plant(s) is operational per year;
    3. the effective continuous operation of secondary arrestment equipment, if it is being used; and
    4. any breakdown or malfunction of secondary arrestment equipment, if it is being used.
  15. The results of the monitoring of emissions, as described in Condition 6, must be submitted to SEPA no later than 8 weeks from the date the monitoring took place via email to registry@sepa.org.uk

Fees and charges

An annual activity fee applies to this activity. Read our charging information for further information on annual activity fees.

Information on the application fees to transfer, vary or surrender a registration that authorises this activity, is in our charging information. 

How to apply

It is not possible to apply for this activity at this time.

The new digital application service for this activity will be launched in September 2028. Information on how to apply for this activity will be shared here ahead of the launch.

Help and guidance

Activity specific guidance is not currently available. It will be published here by 1 January 2029 ahead of applicants being able to apply for this regulated activity.

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