Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
with all the relevant stakeholders, setting up mechanisms to verify the validity of
environmental technologies (ETAP, 2004).
7.2.2 Necessity, principle and role of an EU ETV
In the framework of the Environmental Technology Action Plan, the European Com-
mission planned to set up an EU ETV system as one instrument to achieve the ETAP
objectives (ETAP EU ETV, 2007). The ETV system was defined to be the mechanism
for establishing or confirming the performance of a technology, product or process
under specific, predetermined criteria or protocols and adequate quality assurance
procedures.
The principle of ETV schemes is to provide technology users with reliable infor-
mation about environmental performance so as to accelerate market acceptance of
innovative technologies (EU ETV, 2013). The ETV system would build on existing
capacities and similar approaches in Member States, extending their benefits to the
whole market and ensuring high level of recognition both within Europe and poten-
tially world-wide. International interest in verification is growing. Several European
research projects funded within FP6 and the LIFE program developed generic test-
ing protocols for specific technology areas, as support for a European ETV strategy.
Between 2005 and 2006, the European Commission launched four networks of testing
centers addressing different technology sectors through research projects. The network
included the following projects:
-
EURODEMO focused on the coordination of soil and groundwater remediation
technologies;
-
TESTNET targeted specific research objectives in the areas of water technologies
and clean production, as well as monitoring;
-
PROMOTE targeted specific research objectives in the areas of soil and ground-
water remediation technologies;
-
AIRTV targeted specific research objectives in the area of air emission reduction
technologies.
Based on the results of these projects and former studies, the European Commission
launched the European ETV pilot program on 15 December 2011.
7.2.3 The ETV pilot program
The ETV pilot program provides the possibility for manufacturers to have performance
claims for new technologies validated by an independent third party. The objectives of
the ETV pilot program are as follows:
-
To help developers and vendors, especially SMEs, provide objective and reliable
evidence on the performance of new eco-technologies entering the market in order
to convince first investors and then customers of the merits of these technologies;
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To support technology purchasers (either public or private) who need to base
their decisions on sound information regarding technological claims, widely rec-
ognized as scientifically valid and therefore acceptable as evidence in tendering
and purchasing technologies;
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