Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

337 Chapter 13: Environment and Industry Figure 13.1  IED regulation across Europe 30,000 large industrial plants 20,000 intensive livestock farms 20% of total emissions into the water and air in the EU 40% of all EU greenhouse gas emissions Source: Adapted from the European Council 5 The objective of the IED licensing system is to provide an integrated management approach that concurrently considers environmental pressures on air and water quality and in terms of waste generation. IED licence conditions must be based on the use of best available techniques (BATs), 6 which are the most environmentally effective of the economically viable techniques available. Within Europe there is a legal requirement that industry must report on emissions via the Industrial Emissions Portal, 7 and these data are then made available to the public. 5 www.consilium.europa.eu/en/infographics/industrial-emissions-directive-key-figures/ (accessed 15 July 2024). 6 For further information on BATs, the BAT Reference Document and BAT Conclusions, visit www.epa.ie/our-services/licensing/ industrial/industrial-emissions-licensing-ied/industrial-emissions-licensing-process-explained-/bat--bref--cid/ (accessed 15 July 2024). 7 industry.eea.europa.eu/#/home (accessed 15 July 2024). The information contained in the portal is reported annually and requested under the IED via the EU Registry on Industrial Sites (EU Registry) and the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register. The European Industrial Emissions Portal replaced the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register website in 2021. 8 National binding targets (for the period 2021-2030) are covered by the ESR. This includes emissions from agriculture, transport, buildings and light industry. Installations covered by the IED currently account for 20% of total emissions to water and air in the EU. The IED applies to large combustion plants with a rated thermal input capacity over 50 MWth (megawatts thermal), including standby plants, which emit large quantities of pollutants to air. The Medium Combustion Plant Directive ((EU) 2015/2193) applies to all combustion plants with a rated thermal input capacity of between 1 and 50 MWth. These directives control emissions to air of sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ), nitrogen oxides (NO x ) and particulate matter. The introduction of the Medium Combustion Plant Regulation (S.I. No. 595/2017) will bring a reduction in emission limit standards for all new and existing plants in Ireland by 2025. Across the EU, IED installations account for 40% of all EU greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions are mainly regulated under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) (see Chapters 4 and 12), which the EPA is responsible for administering in Ireland. The scheme includes 112 installations nationally. Since 2005, Ireland’s emissions within the scope of the ETS have decreased by 35%, with electricity generators and cement plants responsible for most of the decrease (see Chapter 4). Light industry (non-energy intensive), such as some dairy processing plants, are covered by the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) ((EU) 2018/842). 8 Under the ESR, Ireland is required to reduce its emissions from these sectors by 42% by 2030, relative to 2005 levels. Industrial sites licensed under the IED are located in all 26 counties. Ireland has a lower proportion of what is considered traditional heavy industry than its European counterparts (e.g. metal processing or mineral extraction) and a higher proportion than EU Member States of licensable industry in three specific sectors (Figure 13.2): 1. intensive agriculture – 45% of the total licensed industries in Ireland; 6% above the EU average (39%) 2. slaughtering, food and drink – 15% of Ireland’s industrial installations; more than twice the EU average (7%) 3. chemicals – 11% of the total of licensed sites in Ireland; 2% above the EU average (9%).