Best available techniques

Best available techniques (BAT) is defined in the EU Directive on integrated pollution prevention and control 96/61/EC as:

'best available techniques' shall mean the most effective and advanced stage in the development of activities and their methods of operation which indicate the practical suitability of particular techniques for providing in principle the basis for emission limit values designed to prevent and, where that is not practicable, generally to reduce emissions and the impact on the environment as a whole:

'Techniques' shall include both the technology used and the way in which the installation is designed, built, maintained, operated and decommissioned,

'Available' techniques shall mean those developed on a scale which allows implementation in the relevant industrial sector, under economically and technically viable conditions, taking into consideration the costs and advantages, whether or not the techniques are used or produced inside the Member State in question, as long as they are reasonably accessible to the operator,

'Best' shall mean most effective in achieving a high general level of protection of the environment as a whole.

Council Directive 96/61/EC of 24 September 1996 concerning
integrated pollution prevention and control, Art. 2(11)

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Considerations to be taken into account generally or in specific cases when determining best available techniques, as defined in Article 2 (11), bearing in mind the likely costs and benefits of a measure and the principles of precaution and prevention:

1. the use of low-waste technology;
2. the use of less hazardous substances;
3. the furthering of recovery and recycling of substances generated and used in the process and of waste, where appropriate;
4. comparable processes, facilities or methods of operation which have been tried with success on an industrial scale;
5. technological advances and changes in scientific knowledge and understanding;
6. the nature, effects and volume of the emissions concerned;
7. the commissioning dates for new or existing installations;
8. the length of time needed to introduce the best available technique;
9. the consumption and nature of raw materials (including water) used in the process and their energy efficiency;
10. the need to prevent or reduce to a minimum the overall impact of the emissions on the environment and the risks to it;
11. the need to prevent accidents and to minimise the consequences for the environment;
12. the information published by the Commission pursuant to Article 16 (2) or by international organisations.

Council Directive 96/61/EC of 24 September 1996 concerning
integrated pollution prevention and control, Art. 2(11)

The European IPPC Bureau has prepared reference documents called BREF outlines, that detail the best available techniques for individual industrial sectors. The BREF’s guide the relevant authorities, industrial operators, and the public in the determination of BAT-based permit conditions.

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Best available techniques

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