Did you submit an RHI application for a new boiler by the 31 March 2021 deadline? Was it over 1 MWth input and operating on biomass? Or maybe under 1MWth but operating on waste wood? If you did not know already, you may require an environmental permit for both the operation of the boiler and RHI accreditation.

• Boilers under 1 MWth input operating on virgin wood or straw do not require a permit from the Environment Agency (EA) or your Local Authority.
• Small boilers planning to or already operating on waste wood require either a Part B (clean untreated waste wood) or Part A2 (demolition waste wood) permit to be compliant.
• Boilers over 1 MWth require a permit under the Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD), which applies to all new >1MWth plants commissioned after 20 December 2018, prior to operating.
• Boilers over 1MWth commissioned before 20 December 2018 and operating on virgin wood or straw do not require permitting until 2024 (>5 MWth) or 2029 (1-5 MWth).

For those of you who have already submitted either a simple or complex MCPD application prior to your RHI submission, but are still waiting for the permit to be determined or issued, there are Regulatory Position Statements (RPS) that you can use so long as you notify the EA as per the RPS requirements and meet the qualifying conditions. A copy of the RPS and your notification email can be forwarded to Ofgem to assist your RHI accreditation as supplementary evidence of your environmental compliance whilst you wait for your permit.

RHI applications made without sufficient environmental permitting evidence can risk being rejected, but we can help you understand what compliance you do and do not need.

If you require assistance with a new or existing environmental permit application or need RHI related advice, please call the NFU Energy team on 024 7669 8899.