By October 30th, 2007, all industrial companies will have to make use of the best available techniques for preventing and controlling pollution. With the deadline approaching, KEMA has developed a scanning service to provide companies with feedback on the extent to which their processes are IPPC-compliant. The new IPPC Scan will also shed light on the cost-effectiveness of different routes.

Under the European Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive, all power producers and waste incinerators, as well as all engineering and process industries, will be required to use the cleanest techniques they can. The ‘best available techniques’ requirement – or ‘BAT’ requirement – has applied to new installations since 1999, but owners of existing plants were given until next autumn to bring their operations up to the necessary level. 

Lengthy BAT reference documents, known for short as BREFs, have been published describing what are considered the best available techniques for each industrial sector. Any plant that doesn’t comply with the IPPC Directive stands to lose its permit.

Huge undertaking
In order to be sure of satisfying the Directive’s requirements, a company needs to review its entire process, from factory gate to chimney. That is a huge undertaking necessitating a thorough understanding of all the subprocesses involved.
KEMA has therefore developed an IPPC Scan to shed light on the compliance position at a plant. First, operational data concerning the plant are compared with BAT specifications and data on the achievable levels of pollution control. If the scan shows that the plant satisfies all the requirements, KEMA can draw up an independent report for presentation to the licensing authority.

Cost-effectiviness
If work still needs to be done to bring the plant into line with the directive, a summary of possible corrective measures can be produced. This summary indicates the cost-effectiveness of each option, so that the client has a clear picture of what the various routes to IPPC compliance entail.
When developing its new IPPC Scan, KEMA has been able to draw on many years of experience in the electricity and waste incineration industries.