Burner systems
European regulations and directives
In Europe, the following directives provide the legal framework and define minimum requirements, which may be formulated even more strictly at national or regional level.
|
Scope of examination/ |
Guideline |
|
≤ 1 MW |
ESPR Regulation 2024/1781 Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation |
|
1 – 50 MW |
MCPD Directive EU 2015/2193 Medium Combustion Plant Directive |
|
> 50 MW |
IED Directive 2010/75/EU Industrial Emissions Directive |
Scope of application of European directives for combustion equipment
The burner outputs of systems with multiple energy generators must be added together where applicable. According to the MCPD and IED directives, this is based on whether the flue gases are discharged via a shared chimney or can be discharged in the opinion of the competent authority. Here, too, there is scope for national legislation and regional regulations, which means that installations in different parts of Europe may be assessed differently.
German regulations (as a hint or inspiration)
In German law, this is regulated by the Act on Protection against Harmful Environmental Impacts from Air Pollution, Noise, Vibration and Similar Processes (Federal Immission Control Act, BImSchG). Specific requirements regarding substance-related emission and immission values are then laid down in the relevant Federal Immission Control Regulations (BImSchV) and in the Technical Instructions on Air Quality Control (TA-Luft). Furthermore, appropriate measurement and calculation methods are prescribed. The TA-Luft is aimed at the approval authorities for industrial and commercial facilities requiring approval and is binding for them.
Overview of the Federal Immission Control Act and the Federal Immission Control Ordinance:
|
Scope of examination/ |
Regulation |
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< 1 MW |
1. BImSchV, (4. BImSchV)1 |
|
1 – 50 MW |
1. BImSchV, 4. BImSchV, 44. BImSchV |
|
> 50 MW |
13. BImSchV |
1) Note: Even systems < 1 MW may fall under Section 4 of the Federal Immission Control Act (BImschV) (Section 4 Aggregation Rules 44 BImSchV)
Range 1–50 MW burner output:-
Permit requirement regulated by 4. BImschV:
➔ Conditions met: This is a system that requires a permit
➔ Conditions not met: This is a system that does not require a permit
➔ The 1st Federal Immission Control Ordinance (BImschV) applies - Emissions/registration/measurement are regulated by the 44th Federal Immission Control Ordinance (BImSchV). Depending on whether the system requires approval or not, different emission requirements apply
If […] the flue gases from two or more individual combustion units are discharged together via a single chimney, the combination of such combustion systems shall be regarded as a single combustion system within the meaning of this Regulation (Section 4 Aggregation Rules 44. BImSchV)