European Parliament votes to set limit values for medium combustion engines
The European Parliament’s Environment committee voted on the Medium Combustion Plants Directive (MCPD) on the 6th of May.
This legislative proposal will set emission limit values for NOx and SO2 emissions from a series of combustion engines between 1 and 50 Megawatts, which also includes specific values for biogas-run CHPs.
EBA supports the reduction of emission levels of harmful pollutants to acceptable levels, something that is essential to ensure the health of Europeans. However, the limit values of the new directive should take a measured approach. In the case of biogas CHP plants, it is essential to give operators realistic targets and enough time to implement them, particularly for SO2 levels, or else they may be driven out of business. While deciding on the values, it is crucial that decision-makers take into account anaerobic digestion’s contribution to the environment and Europe’s economy.
The file was adopted last week in the Environment Committee and it was agreed that representatives of the ENVI committee will represent the Parliament in the trilogue negotiations with the Council. While EBA supports the purpose of this new directive and the resolve of decision-makers to reach a compromise, we believe that the values have to be based on what is technical feasible and economically viable.
