German energy giant RWE will incorporate changes to emission processes at its Aberthaw coal-fed power station in Wales after a court ruled that it has violated pollution norms.
The EU Court of Justice said that the UK government failed to impose proper emission limits for large fossil fuel-fired plants and RWE was exempted from rules though it did not meet local coal-sourcing norms, Bloomberg reported.
RWE said that it has already lowered the amount of nitrogen oxides emitted at Aberthaw with new boiler technology at one unit.
The company plans to modify the plant to equip it to burn lower-emitting international coal to reduce emissions by another 30%.
Aberthaw station manager Richard Little was quoted by the publication as saying: “We believe that with plant efficiencies, modifications, and changes to our operating regime, the station can continue to support security of supply into the 2020s.”
In a probe that started in May 2012, the European Commission found that Aberthaw was violating the EU rules and referred the UK government to the Luxembourg-based EU court.
Welsh government spokesperson said: “The U.K. argued EU legislation applied a different emission limit to Aberthaw to reflect its unusual design, which was linked to its local Welsh coal supplies.
“The operator’s investment in Aberthaw has already reduced its emissions and further investments are being made to deliver additional reductions over the remaining life of the station during the transition to lower carbon energy generation.”
Earlier this year, RWE said that it would operate Aberthaw plant less frequently in a bid to make it available in stressed conditions.
RWE spokeswoman said that the company has not altered the operation plan for Aberthaw due to the ECJ ruling.