Posted on July, 31 2017

Europe’s most polluting power plants, including many large coal-fired power stations, will be forced to clean up or close down thanks to new EU rules adopted today. The revised standards demand reductions in toxic emissions, yet businesses and governments appear unprepared.

EU-wide compliance with the new rules could cost as much as €15.4bn, and 82% of coal capacity expected to be online in 2021 is currently failing to meet the minimum standards. With coal already in dramatic decline, the uncertainty created by stricter limits on pollution leaves closure as the only logical end for coal plants. [1]

The new standards [2] include tighter rules for emissions of nitrous oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and tiny pieces of harmful dust known as ‘particulate matter’ (PM). These toxic substances are linked to a host of health and environmental issues including the development of asthma in children and polluting of Europe’s air and water.

132 cities in 23 countries are breaching EU laws on air quality. [3] Worsening urban air pollution has been described as a ‘public health crisis’ and has led to growing demands from communities for urgent action.  Ensuring large power plants use the best available techniques to reduce pollution will lead to significant reductions in emissions and have a positive effect on air quality across Europe, including in cities.

The new rules were adopted despite the opposition of major coal-addicted economies. At the time of the vote in April, Germany was heavily criticised by health, environmental and climate groups for joining a ‘toxic bloc’ of eastern European countries in opposing the new limits. [4]

Today’s move provides a safety net of minimum expectations for Europe’s worst polluters, but more importantly it signals that the end for coal in Europe is looming. EU governments now have a maximum of four years to adapt their energy systems to the new limits and ensure workers and communities facing an uncertain economic future are empowered to transition to new livelihoods.

Quotes:

Darek Urbaniak, Senior Energy Policy Officer, WWF European Policy Office:

"This is a big step towards a zero coal Europe - towards safer air and lower carbon emissions. EU Member States must get straight to work to put these new rules into practise, and bring the dirtiest coal plants off line completely."

Christian Schaible, EEB Industrial Production Manager and a member of the Technical Working Group that helped to draft the revised standards:

“These new requirements will help speed up the energy transition, but not all plants will have the will, the financing, or even the access to the equipment needed to reduce pollution levels. Investments in plants that are already essentially on life support in order to meet climate commitments simply doesn’t make sense. Plants that commit to close could, under strict conditions and in exchange for reduced operation, be granted exceptions in the short-term, but Europe will have to have phased out coal completely by 2030.”

Dave Jones, Energy Analyst at Sandbag:

"It’s important to note that these new limits are only a safety net for the worst polluters.  The technical paper proves what is possible using the very “best available techniques”.  We hope that governments are motivated to seriously tackle pollution, which would mean going beyond the minimum requirements. This should be done as soon as possible rather than waiting until 2021."

Julia Gogolewska, Senior Policy Officer at the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL):

“Thousands of premature deaths from coal pollution can be avoided if these rules are applied, but while they hasten the inevitable, phasing out coal entirely is the only way to maximise the lives saved from air pollution and climate impacts.”

Prof Barbara Hoffmann, incoming Chair of the Environment and Health Committee of the European Respiratory Society:

“Introducing and fully enforcing Best Available Techniques standards through the EU’s Industrial Emissions Directive offers a clear means of protecting our health and reducing the level of harmful pollutants and gases in the atmosphere. Applying these standards will also contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change.”

Joanna Flisowska, Coal Policy Coordinator at Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe:

“The adoption of new air pollution limits for power plants is a key first step to protect the health of citizens and the environment. However, to honour the Paris Agreement commitments, the EU must ensure coal companies don't get a free ride. Dirty plants must be closed as soon as possible and coal workers and communities must be protected during the inevitable transition to clean renewable energy.”

Notes to editors:

The new standards are set in the BAT (Best Available Techniques) Conclusions of the revised LCP BREF (Large Combustion Plants Best Available Techniques Reference Document) that was adopted today and will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union shortly.

The potential for the new standards to reduce the negative health impacts of coal in Europe were revealed in a joint report published last October: ‘Lifting Europe’s Dark Cloud: How cutting coal saves lives’.

Check the potential impact of the new limits on coal plants in your country.

The new standards may seem much stricter, but are in fact based on what is already being achieved by other plants across Europe and around the world. Many European plants are responsible for excessive pollution because they have not been required to invest in ‘abatement’ techniques to reduce their emissions.

For more information about the LCP BREF, see Our Q&A guide: What is the LCP BREF?

References:

[1] Report on Hard Coal/Lignite Fired Power Plants in EU28 by DNV GL for the European Climate Foundation. 16 June 2017.
[2] Commission to review permits of Large Combustion Plants, European Commission Press Release, 31 July 2017
[3] Commission warns Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom of continued air pollution breaches, European Commission Press Release, 15 Feb 2017
[4] Cleaner air the winner after Germany fails to block new EU rules, EEB Press Release, 28 Apr 2017

For further information, please contact:

Sarah Azau
Senior Communications Officer,
WWF European Policy Office
Tel: +32 473 57 31 37.
Email: sazau@wwf.eu