BBC News reports “The Kingsnorth power station, which was not adapted to meet emissions targets, is expected to close two years early after running out of its allocated operating hours under EU environmental legislation.” Moreover, it noted that the plant would stop generating electricity in March 2013 with the loss of more than 100 jobs.
The Directive on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) has set stricter operational conditions, technical requirements and emission limit values for industrial plants. Under this Directive about 52,000 industrial plants, in the EU, are required to meet new minimum emissions standards on several pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and dust. Obviously, businesses are concerned that such piece of legislation requiring stricter pollution standards for industrial installations may force power stations as well as other plants to close down.
The new limit values would be applicable to existing LCPs from 2016, but Member States may use ‘transitional national plans’ allowing large combustion plants up to July 2020 to comply with stricter limits. Whereas some older plants may not have to meet the targets, if they operate no longer than 17,500 hours and providing they close by the end of 2023, the newer power stations must comply with the 2012 deadline.
The ludicrous situation is that the Government cannot guarantee Britain's energy security. The Government has tried to reduce the impact of the Directive on industrial emissions but it could not veto the proposal. Moreover, the government could not change the current EU laws, in fact, it is obliged to apply them otherwise it will be taken again to the ECJ. Consequently, under the large combustion plants directive, nine UK’s power stations are set to close in 2015.
