New Clean Air solid fuel regs to come into force

New Clean Air solid fuel regs to come into force

A range of tighter Solid Fuel regulations aimed at reducing air pollution comes into force at the end of this month, with Environment and Transport Minister Eamon Ryan saying they are needed to curb air pollution and Ireland’s carbon emissions.

The new regulations regarding solid fuels for domestic heating will come into effect on 31 October 2022 and will hit householders, fuel retailers and those involved in the solid fuel industry, including producers or importers.

The new rules will see certain types of coal and wood banned from use for domestic heating and also severely limit the sale and use of turf. There have been concerns they could add to upward pressure on fuel prices as suppliers have to find new sources of more tightly regulated fuels.

The new rules have been vehemently opposed in some quarters including the rural group of independent TDs, including West Cork TD Michael Collins, who has accused the coalition government of blocking an emergency debate on the energy crisis and ‘giving the proverbial finger’ to families struggling to heat their homes this winter.

Some of the changes that will apply when the regulations come into effect are:

  • Coal products and manufactured solid fuels must have a smoke emission rate of less than 10 grams per hour – this is the same as currently in force in low smoke zones.
  • Manufactured part biomass products must have a smoke emission rate of less than 5 grams per hour
  • Coal products and manufactured solid fuels, including manufactured part biomass products, must have a sulphur content of less than 2% by weight on a dry ash-free basis, and subject to a market assessment, from 1 September 2025 this will be reduced to 1%
  • Fuel products which are 100% biomass products including, wood products and wood logs, supplied in units of two cubic metres or less, must have a moisture content of less than 25% (from 1 September 2025, this will be reduced to less than 20%)
  • Wood logs supplied in units of two cubic metres or more shall be accompanied by a notice outlining the need to store and season wet wood until it is sufficiently dried
  • It will not be possible to sell turf via retail, online or other media, in public houses or other public places

Full details on all of the changes and how these will affect consumers and retailers can be found at the Government Information Site on Solid Fuel rules.