Information on biomass boilers
Biomass boilers can cause negative impacts on air quality depending on their size, fuel characteristics and how they are operated. This is particularly important if they are located in the Air Quality Management Area. Biomass boilers are regulated in a variety of ways, see Environmental Protection UK guidance. The following should be considered:
- Planning applications involving biomass combustion will need to be able to demonstrate the impacts on local air quality, and propose suitable control and/or mitigation measures where necessary.
- An Air Quality Assessment may be required.
- An Environmental Permit may be required depending on the size and fuel type of the appliance.
- Chimney Height Approval may be required.
- The boiler may need to be an exempt appliance or burn authorised fuel because Manchester is a Smoke Control Area.
- Best practice procedures relating to plant maintenance, location, fuel storage, product and fuel standards and start up/ shut down procedures are required to minimise the potential for smoke, odour and noise nuisance.
We will make a risk based assessment of the potential air quality impacts of biomass combustion appliances, based on the available information. We may recommend refusal of applications where there is a significant impact on air quality and or best practice standards of environmental protection are not met.