BAT Assessments

BAT Assessments UK for Environmental Permits, BAT Conclusions Compliance and Evidence-Led Improvement Plans

Best Available Techniques (BAT) Assessments evaluate whether an installation is applying BAT to prevent or minimise emissions and impacts, as required under environmental permitting frameworks for relevant activities. A robust BAT assessment helps operators demonstrate compliance with BAT Conclusions, justify techniques and performance levels, identify gaps, and plan improvements in a controlled, defensible way. This is particularly important where permit reviews occur, BAT-AELs apply, or regulator scrutiny increases following sector updates.

When a BAT Assessment Is Required

BAT assessments are typically required where:

• Your installation is within scope of BAT Conclusions and a permit review is required
• The regulator requests BAT evidence during determination, variation or compliance assessment
• You need to demonstrate alignment with BAT-associated emission levels (BAT-AELs) where applicable
• Operational changes, throughput increases or process upgrades require BAT justification
• You are preparing for audit, inspection or enforcement risk reduction
• Corporate governance requires structured environmental performance evidence

Purpose of a BAT Assessment

The purpose is to provide an evidence-based comparison between your current operations and relevant BAT requirements, then define actions to achieve compliance. A good BAT assessment is practical: it prioritises decision-critical gaps, identifies technically feasible improvements, and supports permitting discussions with transparent justification.

What a BAT Assessment Typically Includes

• Scope definition (activities, processes, emission sources, relevant BAT Conclusions)
• Current techniques review (controls, monitoring, management systems, performance)
• BAT gap analysis (where requirements are met, partially met or not met)
• BAT-AEL evaluation where relevant, including monitoring evidence requirements
• Improvement plan with priorities, timelines and evidence outputs
• Justification narrative for techniques selection and feasibility where needed

How BAT Links to Monitoring and Compliance Evidence

BAT compliance often depends on monitoring credibility and reporting governance. BAT assessments may link directly to MCERTS Testing Stack Emissions Monitoring for periodic emissions evidence, Calibration of CEMS EN 14181 for continuous monitoring compliance, OMA Support for EA monitoring performance expectations, and Monthly and Annual EA Reporting for reporting systems and evidence structure.

What the Service Delivers

• BAT applicability and scope summary aligned to your installation
• Structured gap analysis against relevant BAT requirements
• Evidence requirements map (what monitoring/records are needed to demonstrate compliance)
• Practical improvement plan with prioritised actions and timelines
• Permit-supporting narrative and documentation suitable for regulator engagement

Standards, Guidance and Regulatory Context

BAT requirements and permitting context commonly reference GOV.UK Best available techniques (BAT) reference documents (BREFs), EU Industrial Emissions Directive (BAT framework context), and GOV.UK Environmental permits.

What We Need From You

• Environmental Permit, relevant schedules and any recent regulator correspondence
• Process overview, emission sources and abatement/control descriptions
• Monitoring records (periodic and continuous) and reporting outputs
• Any planned changes, upgrades or performance issues to address