Southwest Environmental Limited

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Apply for an Anaerobic Digestion Permit

Do you require assistance with an application for an anaerobic digestion plant? Please contact us for a quotation.

You may need one of the below permits:

SR2010No15 Anaerobic digestion facility including use of the resultant biogas
SR2010No16 On-farm anaerobic digestion facility including use of the resultant biogas
SR2010No17 Storage of digestate from anaerobic digestion plants

What are the constraints of an Anaerobic Digestion Permit? (Based on SR2010No15)

10 metres of any watercourse
50 metres from any spring or well, or from any borehole not used to supply water for domestic or food production purposes, and
250 metres from any water abstraction point or borehole used to supply water for domestic or food production purposes
500 meters from SSSI
250 meters from dwelling

Which Activities can you carry out with an Anaerobic Digestion Permit?

R13: Storage of wastes pending the operations numbered - Treatment of waste including shredding, sorting, screening, compaction, baling, mixing and maceration. Digestion of wastes including pasteurisation and chemical addition. Gas cleaning by biological or chemical scrubbing. Gas storage and drying. Treatment of digestate including screening to remove plastic residues, centrifuge or pressing, addition of thickening agents (polymers) or drying. Composting and maturation of digestate. The maximum throughput of animal wastes shall be <10 tonnes per day. The total quantity of waste accepted at the site shall be less than 75,000 tonnes a year.

R1, R3 and D10 R3: Recycling or reclamation of organic substances that are not used as solvents

R1: Use principally as a fuel or other means to generate energy. The use of combustible gases produced as a by-product of the anaerobic digestion process as fuel. Except for the auxiliary flare, the aggregate rated thermal input of all appliances used to burn biogas shall be less than 3 megawatts.

What supporting documents will you need for an Anaerobic Digestion Permit?

Emissions Limits for an Anaerobic Digestion Permit?

For a free initial consultation please Email or Phone.

Emission Point and Source	Parameter	Limit (including units)	Monitoring Frequency and Standard or Method
Stacks on Engines	Oxides of Nitrogen Carbon monoxide Suphur dioxide Total volatile organic compounds including methane Non methane volatile organic compounds	500 mg/m3 1400 mg/m3 350 mg/m3 1000 mg/m3 75 mg/m3 Emission levels at Normal Temperature and Pressure and 5%O2, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Agency	Annual monitoring Monitoring equipment, techniques, personnel and organisations employed for the engine stack emissions monitoring programme (including the measurement of exhaust gas temperature) shall have either MCERTS certification or MCERTS accreditation (as appropriate).
Stacks on Boilers Burning Biogas	Oxides of Nitrogen Carbon	No limit set	No limit set
Auxiliary Flare	Oxides of Nitrogen Carbon monoxide	No limit set	No limit set
Pressure Relief Valves	Biogas	No limit set	No limit set

Technical Framework: Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Permitting

Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is a critical technology for the recovery of energy from organic waste streams, supporting both national grid stability and net-zero targets. However, the complex biological and chemical processes involved necessitate a stringent regulatory approach. In the UK, AD facilities require an environmental permit to operate, with requirements ranging from Standard Rules (SR) for "on-farm" or small-scale sites to complex bespoke permits for large industrial plants.

Regulatory Constraints and Site Selection

The placement and operation of an AD facility are subject to strict environmental "set-back" distances to protect sensitive receptors and groundwater resources. Failure to meet these criteria can lead to the rejection of a permit application.

Hydrological Protection: Facilities must maintain a 10-meter distance from watercourses and up to 250 meters from water abstraction points used for domestic or food production.
Conservation Areas: Siting must be at least 500 meters from a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) to minimize the risk of nutrient deposition or habitat degradation.
Amenity Protection: A minimum distance of 250 meters from residential dwellings is typically required to manage potential impacts from noise and bio-aerosols.

Emission Limits and Technical Documentation

Once operational, AD facilities must comply with rigorous emission limits for gases produced during power generation. Continuous or annual monitoring is often a mandatory condition of the permit.

Stack Emissions: Engine stacks are monitored for Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) (500 mg/m³ limit), Carbon Monoxide, and Sulphur Dioxide to ensure compliance with the Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD).
Written Management Systems: A comprehensive management plan is required to outline operational controls, maintenance schedules, and emergency protocols.
Odour and Noise Control: For sites near sensitive receptors, specialized Noise Impact Assessments and Odour Management Plans (OMP) are essential to maintain the permit.
Site Condition Reports: A baseline Site Condition Report (SCR) must be established prior to operation to track potential soil or groundwater impacts.

Professional Support for Energy Recovery Projects

At Southwest Environmental Limited (SWEL), we provide the technical authority required to manage the end-to-end permit application process for AD plants. With over 15 years of industry experience and 900+ projects delivered, our team integrates permitting with Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and Planning Statements to ensure a smooth transition from design to operation. Our professional accreditation (IES/IAQM) ensures that your facility meets the highest standards of environmental safety and regulatory compliance.