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Legislation

Summary of Directive 2001/80/EC on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large combustion plants (the LCP Directive)

The overall aim of the LCP Directive is to reduce emissions of acidifying pollutants, particles, and ozone precursors. Control of emissions from large combustion plants - those whose rated thermal input is equal to or greater than 50 MW - plays an important role in the Union's efforts to combat acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone as part of the overall strategy to reduce air pollution.

The LCP Directive entered into force on 27 November 2001. It replaced the old Directive on large combustion plants (Directive 88/609/EEC as amended by Directive 94/66/EC).

The LCP Directive contains the following provisions:

1. Plants licensed after 26 November 2002 have to comply with the (stricter) emission limit values for SO2, NOx and dust fixed in part B of the Annexes III to VII.
2. Plants licensed on or after 1 July 1987 and before 27 November 2002 have to comply with the (less strict) emission limit values fixed in part A of the Annexes III to VII.
3. Significant emission reductions from "existing plants" (licensed before 1 July 1987) are required to be achieved by 1 January 2008:
   a) by individual compliance with the same emission limit values as established for the plants referred to in point 2 above or
   b) through a national emission reduction plan (NERP) that achieves overall reductions calculated on the basis of those emission limit values.

The Commission considers that it is possible to adopt a "combined approach" (combination of points a) and b)) for these "existing plants". A NERP must address all three pollutants covered by the Directive for all the plants covered by the plan.

Legal texts

The original legal texts and summary of the LCP directive can be found at the Europa-site. The consolidated version of Directive can be found here.