AdvanceETV Newsletter

Official launch of the EU ETV Pilot Programme

On 15^th December 2011, the European Commission (EC) officially launched the EU Environmentally Technology Verification (ETV) Pilot Programme as part of the new Eco-Innovation Action Plan (EcoAP) This launch was the result of several exploratory research projects in a number of technology areas funded by EC Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG Research), as well as market studies and policy development led by EC DG Environment on the potentially supporting role of ETV in innovation.
We are therefore very happy that one of the identified instruments to achieve the ambitious Environmental Technology Action Plan (ETAP) adopted in January 2004 by the EC has been realized.

Why Environmental Technology Verification (ETV)?
ETV is a mechanism that provides independent third-party testing and verification of the performance characteristics of technologies.
By issuing a Statement of Verification - which is the product of a successful ETV process - ETV provides credible information on the performance of a specific technology. Market access is significantly enhanced for innovative environmental technologies and the business and technological risks for technology purchasers (both private and public) are significantly reduced. The information contained in the Statement of Verification gives a short description of the technology and summarises the actual performance of the verified technology as well as the results of the tests performed. With proof of performance credibly assured, along with information about the design of the tests, innovations can expect greater market acceptance. Furthermore, the international cooperation on ETV established between European, Northern American and Asian countries envisions future mutual recognition of national and regional ETV programmes, thus offering an even wider market perspective.


The EU ETV Pilot Programme
European Commission services, together with seven Member States (Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Poland and the United Kingdom) have launched the ETV Pilot Programme initially covering three technology areas:

(1) Water treatment and monitoring,
(2) Energy technologies,
(3) Materials, waste and resources.

The ETV Pilot Programme is to be implemented by Verification Bodies, specifically accredited (by national accreditation bodies in the Member States concerned) to perform verification under ETV for a given area of technology. Organisations interested in becoming Verification Bodies should contact their national accreditation body, whose contact details can be found on the webpage of the European Co-operation for Accreditation.

The Verification Bodies - which are at the heart of the ETV Pilot Programme - will initially be supported by an EU budget, with an annual amount of € 1 million programmed from 2011 to 2013 This funding will be used to set-up the structures and activities necessary to implement ETV and as a preliminary market support action, to provide Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) with access to the ETV Pilot Programme.

Once implemented, the ETV Pilot Programme is also open for companies and testing bodies from other European countries.


ETV Conference and Green Week

ETV Conference (22^nd-24^th May 2012)
On 22^nd - 24^th May 2012 the ETV conference, initiated by AdvanceETV will be held in Brussels, Belgium. This will be the first European conference on ETV since the launch of the EU ETV Pilot Programme, providing up to date and comprehensive information about the programme. More information about the status of the ETV Pilot Programme and harmonisation with countries outside EU will be provided.

Target groups are:

• Technology Solution Proponents (Supply Side)

   

• Performance Information Users (Demand Side), including Solution Adopters, Investors and other Financial Stakeholders, and Enablers/Facilitators (including innovation programs and initiatives)

   

• Current and Potential Testing and Verification Organizations

   

• Government Departments, Ministries and Regulatory Agencies.

   

We would like to invite you to join the event and learn more about the following topics:

• ETV within the Eco-Innovation Action Plan

   

• The EU ETV pilot programme

   

• The route to mutual recognition

   

The conference will update you on international developments on ETV:

• Within the International Working Group on ETV, and;

   

• In countries (such as China) that are now working on the introduction of an ETV system.

   

With regards to the practical application of ETV, the conference will also comprise training on:

• Session A: Operation of the European ETV Pilot Programme

   

• Session B: Requirements for accreditation of Verification Bodies (ISO 17020, the existing conformity assessment standard for inspection bodies)

   

The participation in the conference and training will be free of charge.

More information on the EU FP7 project AdvanceETV is available at www.eu-etv-strategy.eu


Green Week (22nd-25th May 2012)
From 22^nd - 25^th May 2012 the EU conference Green Week will take place in Brussels with the theme "Water".

On May 24^th 2012 from 14:30-16:00, an ETV session will be held as part of the Green Week.
More information on the contents of the ETV session at Green Week will be provided soon.


More information on the EU Eco-Innovation Action Plan and ETV

From ETAP to the Eco-innovation Action Plan
In January 2004 the European Commission (EC) adopted the Environmental Technology Action Plan (ETAP) to both catalyse and promote the development and wider use of environmental technologies within the EU and globally. One instrument to achieve the ETAP objectives was Environmental Technology Verification (ETV).
In December 2011, following the review of the ETAP and as a follow-up to the plan, the EC DG Environment developed and launched the Eco-Innovation Action Plan (EcoAP). This expanded the focus of ETAP from green technologies to all aspects of eco-innovation. Thisincludes moving existing successful ETAP tools to 'the next level' to encourage private investment through new financial instruments; to increase the focus on SMEs through better links with existing initiatives; to support greater international co-operation and coordination worldwide; and to reinforce the role of environmental policy in driving eco-innovation.
The EcoAP follows the strategic guidelines of Europe 2020 and the new EU Research and Innovation Plan (the new EU innovation strategy) and proposes operational and targeted actions to deliver on the green ambitions described within these two key documents.

More information about the EcoAP is available from http://ec.europa.eu/environment/etap/inaction/ecoAp_launched.html.