The gas industry has fewer obvious environmental problems to solve than some parts of the Chemical Industry but all types of business have some effect on the environment through the natural resources it consumes to make and distribute the products it sells.
The Environmental agenda, which was previously under TSC6 (HASAG) in BCGA, continues to grow rapidly in workload and complexity, such that in 2009 we decided to inaugurate a distinct new technical sub-committee, TSC8 (Environment) under the Chairmanship of Mr Nigel Anderson of BOC.
The minutes of the latest TSC8 meeting can be viewed, as others, within the members area under 'Meetings'.
Members interested in joining TSC8 are entitled to do so and should make contact with the BCGA office.
Topics
The Environment Agency (EA) publishes a very useful overview of general Environmental and other regulatory requirements on
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/netregs/
Major Environmental topics under TSC8’s view are:-
Climate Change and Carbon Management
Climate Change Levy (CCL)
The UK Climate Change Levy (CCL) is a tax on industrial electricity, gas and oil usage.
BCGA has a Climate change agreement (CCA) under the CCL in place since 2005, covering operators of Air Separation Units (ASU’s) in the UK.
CCA's are applicable to industry sectors recognised to be 'Energy Intensive' by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) that may, by 'negotiated agreement' gain partial relief from the Climate Change Levy in return for progressively improving their energy efficiency in accordance with closely defined targets.
CCA’s are extremely complex and a topic which more detail can be found about on the DECC website.
The relief from CCL under CCA’s drops from 80% to 65% from 1st April 2011. Businesses covered within a CCA are largely exempted from the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) below.
Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC)
Business organisations which have significant electricity usage (as judged by having half-hourly metering and an aggregate 6000MW/h PA consumption), are within the scope of the CRC , registration for impacted sites and organisations started in April 2010
For more information on the CRC, click here.
Carbon Footprinting and Carbon Neutrality
An increasingly common practice is to assess and state the carbon consumption of businesses and of individual products. For a general guide to Carbon Footprinting click here.
The European Industrial Gases Association is working on some specific guidance on this for the gases industry
EU Emissions trading scheme EU ETS
From 1st January 2013 HYCO plants > 25 tonnes/day of hydrogen production will come under the EU ETS, more information is available from the EIGA web site
Industrial Pollution Control - Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) and Integrated Pollution Control (IPC)
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There are several gas industry processes that need to be covered by specific environmental permits; these are Hydrogen and carbon monoxide (HYCO) production, acetylene, nitrous oxide or electronics gases production. |
Air separation and filling of packed or bulk gases and gas mixtures are not subject to the EPR permitting regime.
Air separation plants often operate on sites regulated by the Environment Agency under EPR. The BCGA has worked with the Environment Agency to establish that no separate permit is needed for the gas company operation, provided that certain conditions are met. GN21 is here for members or here for non-members.
Gas Cylinders in the Waste Stream
Gas Cylinders and drums are fully reusable and recyclable transportable pressure vessels with a long life time.
However cylinders can turn up at waste transfer and disposal sites and BCGA has produced guidance as to how to manage the associated risks
Explanation of and link to L2
BCGA's position is that cylinders are not obligated packaging under the
Packaging Producer Responsibility Regulations, however sale or importation of one trip disposable cylinders, boxes or wooden crates for equipment, drums could create obligations under these regulations for BCGA members.
More information is available here. Click the image to the right to download leaflet L2. |
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All business produces waste, regulations covering waste are found here.
Fluorinated Gases (F Gas) and Ozone depleting substances (ODS)
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Supply and use of F gas and ODS are regulated by EU and UK regulations,
For more details see here. |
Government Consultations
BCGA responds to many Government consultations, many on Environmental Matters. Below are two examples. (Members Only)
Copy of 100423 Rules Condoc - Response Form (vertical version) (3)_v2
Response on new CCA proposals Feb 2010
Useful Links
CBI
EIGA
EA
DEFRA
HSE
DECC
Consultations |
