Application of AHP and corrective factors for the determination of best available techniques and emission limit values at installation level: A case study in four cement installations.

After the adoption of the Industrial Emissions Directive in the European Union, requirements regarding emission limit values were made legally binding, and the competent authorities shall ensure that they do not exceed the emission levels associated with the best available techniques. This paper describes a two-stage method for the determination of best available techniques (BAT) and emission limit values (ELV) at installation level, applicable to all industrial sectors covered by the IED and to all pollutants to air and to water. This new method may support competent authorities to implement BAT conclusions into the IED permits. The determination of BAT is based on the use of analytical hierarchy process, while the ELV is determined by using corrective factors based on consumption and emission indicators from the installation. The method is applied in a case study on four existing cement installations in the region of Andalucia (Spain).