The Carbon Capture Readiness (Electricity Generating Stations) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2019
Title, commencement and application1.
(1)
The title of these Regulations is the Carbon Capture Readiness (Electricity Generating Stations) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2019 and they come into force on 1 April 2019.
(2)
These Regulations apply in relation to Wales.
Amendment of the Carbon Capture Readiness (Electricity Generating Stations) Regulations 20132.
Interpretation3.
““the 1990 Act” means the Town and Country Planning Act 19904;”;
““devolved combustion plant” means a combustion plant in Wales with a related electrical output of between 300 and 350 megawatts;”;
““local planning authority” and “planning permission” have the meanings given in section 336 of the 1990 Act5;”;
““relevant planning authority” means in relation to a relevant planning permission—
(a)
where the development to which the application relates is of national significance for the purposes of section 62D of the 1990 Act6, the Welsh Ministers;(b)
in all other cases, the local planning authority;”;
““relevant planning permission” means a planning permission—
(a)
for the construction of a devolved combustion plant; or
(b)
for an extension or alteration to a combustion plant in Wales which will have the effect of increasing the rated electrical output of the plant to between 300 and 350 megawatts;”.
Changes to development consent orders: determination of carbon capture readiness and requirements to be imposed where CCR conditions are met4.
In regulation 4 (changes to development consent orders)—
(a)
at the end of paragraph (1) after “(“the modified plant”)” insert “(but see paragraph (1A))”;
(b)
“(1A)
The Welsh Ministers must not—
(a)
change a consent order in respect of a combustion plant in Wales with a rated electrical output of less than 300 megawatts in such a way as to enable the plant to have a rated electrical output of between 300 and 350 megawatts; or
(b)
change a relevant consent order in respect of a devolved combustion plant in such a way as to enable a combustion plant to increase its rated electrical output to a maximum of 350 megawatts,
unless the Welsh Ministers have determined whether the CCR conditions are met in relation to the combustion plant, as constructed or extended in accordance with the consent order as so changed (“the modified plant”).”;
(c)
in paragraph (2) after “determination under paragraph (1)” insert “and the Welsh Ministers’ determination under paragraph (1A)”;
(d)
in paragraph (3)(a) after “determines” insert “under paragraph (1)”;
(e)
“(3A)
If the Welsh Ministers—
(a)
determine under paragraph (1A) that the CCR conditions are met in relation to a combustion plant; and
(b)
decide to—
(i)
change a consent order in respect of that plant in the way described in paragraph (1A)(a); or
(ii)
change a relevant consent order in respect of that plant in the way described in paragraph (1A)(b),
the Welsh Ministers must ensure that the consent order (as changed) includes a requirement that suitable space is set aside for the equipment necessary to capture and compress all of the CO2 that would otherwise be emitted from the plant.”
Applications for relevant planning permission: determination of carbon capture readiness and requirements to be imposed where CCR conditions are met5.
“Applications for planning permission: determination of carbon capture readiness and requirements to be imposed where CCR conditions are met6A.
(1)
The relevant planning authority must not grant a relevant planning permission unless the relevant planning authority has determined whether the CCR conditions are met in relation to the combustion plant to which the planning permission relates.
(2)
The relevant planning authority’s determination under paragraph (1) must be made on the basis of—
(a)
a CCR assessment of the combustion plant prepared by the person who made the application for the relevant planning permission; and
(b)
any other available information, particularly concerning the protection of the environment and human health.
(3)
If the relevant planning authority—
(a)
determines that the CCR conditions are met in relation to a combustion plant; and
(b)
decides to grant a relevant planning permission in respect of that plant,
the relevant planning authority must include a requirement in the relevant planning permission that suitable space is set aside for the equipment necessary to capture and compress all of the CO2 that would otherwise be emitted from the plant.
(4)
In this regulation, in the case of a planning permission for an extension to a combustion plant which will have the effect of increasing the rated electrical output of the plant to between 300 and 350 megawatts, references to a “combustion plant” are references to that plant as extended.”
These Regulations amend the Carbon Capture Readiness (Electricity Generating Stations) Regulations 2013 (“the 2013 Regulations”) as a result of the devolution, by the Wales Act 2017, of energy consenting functions in relation to electricity generating stations in Wales which have or will have a capacity not exceeding 350 megawatts.
The 2013 Regulations implemented Article 36 of Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) (Recast) (OJ No. L334, 17.12.2010, p.17).
Regulation 2 inserts new definitions.
Regulation 4 amends regulation 4 of the 2013 Regulations to make provision in respect of the Welsh Ministers’ new functions under Schedule 6 to the Planning Act 2008 in relation to combustion plants in Wales with a rated electrical output of between 300 and 350 megawatts.
Regulation 5 inserts a new regulation 6A. Regulation 6A relates to planning permissions for the construction of combustion plants in Wales with a rated electrical output of between 300 and 350 megawatts (or for extensions to combustion plants in Wales which have the effect of increasing the rated electrical output of the plants to between 300 and 350 megawatts). Before granting such a planning permission the Welsh Ministers or local planning authority (as applicable) must determine whether certain conditions are met relating to the feasibility of carbon capture and storage. If the conditions are met, the planning permission must include conditions for suitable space to be set aside for equipment necessary to capture and compress all the carbon dioxide that would otherwise be emitted from the plant.
The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, it was not considered necessary to carry out a regulatory impact assessment as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations.