Transcript Corporate EPA Presentation

Green-Innovation Research for Environmental
Protection in Ireland
Lisa Sheils, Environmental Protection Agency Ireland
ENVITECH-Net Katowice 22-23 October 2009
About the EPA
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent public
body established under the Environmental Protection Agency Act,
1992.
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Other main instruments from which it derives its mandate are the
Waste Management Act, 1996, and the Protection of the
Environment Act, 2003.
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The EPA has a wide range of functions to protect the environment. Its
primary activities include:
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Environmental licensing
Enforcement of environmental law
Environmental planning and guidance
Monitoring and Reporting on the environmental status
Managing Environmental Research Programme
340 Staff in 10 Locations
Inspectorates
Dublin
Cork
Castlebar
Monaghan
Kilkenny
Regional Offices
Mallow
Athlone
Limerick
Letterkenny
Headquarters
Wexford
EPA Environmental Research Programme
EPA Act, 1992 (Section 71), SOE reports, NDP 2007-2013,
Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (2006 & 2009)
Building a Smart Green Economy (2008)
National & International Legislation, Policies & Plans
R&D Programme
(94-99)
€3m
ERTDI Programme (2000-2006)
STRIVE Programme (2007-2013)
€55m
€103m
Areas Covered
Environmental Technologies, Climate Change, Waste Resource Mgt & Chemicals, Water Quality,
Air Quality, Biodiversity, Soils, Land Cover, Socio-Economics, Environment & Health
Funding Types
Scholarships, Fellowships, Large Multi-Interdisciplinary Projects
Business Support – Cleaner Greener Production Programme
EPA Environmental Research Programme
 Increasingly, research playing a central role in protecting the
environment:
 Provides foundation for policy and decision making
 Technology & innovation provide pioneering solutions to environmental
problems
 Foundation for ‘Smart Green Economy’
 EPA has the overall remit for co-ordinating environmental
research in Ireland.
 Manages national funding for research on behalf of DEHLG
 Link to national & EU policy, evidence based assessments
and on scientific knowledge of EPA staff
Research Supporting Policy
(Implementation & Development )
 Climate change research has developed new national
capacity to forecast future climate conditions in Ireland.
Featured strongly in Climate Change Strategy 20072013
 Recent projects informing policy on the potential of MBT
& Pay-By-Use waste charging systems in an Irish
context. Highly relevant to National Biowaste Strategy
 Water Framework Directive (WFD) – Major input to
policy deliverables
EPA Environmental Research Programme (cont.)
 Most recent strategy for period 2007-2013
STRIVE – Science Technology, Research & Innovation for the
Environment
 Key focus on Eco-Innovation
 Industry-led: Cleaner Greener Production Programme
 Academic-led: Environmental Technologies Research Programme
Research Supporting Business
 Establised in 1997 as pilot with IBEC
 Cleaner Greener Production Programme
 Total Cost: €17.5m; EPA input €5.9m (34%)
CGPP Phase 2
(22 organisations (incl. Pfizers,
Millipore, Diageo, SMEs), 150
participants, €1m investment)
CO2 reductions – 3,500 tpa
Water/wastewater reductions – 220,000 tpa
Energy > 660MWh
Solid Waste >1,500 tpa
EPA grant award: ~€1m
€1.6m per annum
ROI = 80-115% depending on
payback period used 5/10 years.
Financial Savings:
Highlighted as Exemplar Programme in EU review of
Eco-Innovation Programmes (2007)
Research Supporting Wider Environmental
Technologies (Academic Led)
 ETAP Initiative in EU in 2004 – EPA widened support for Environmental
Technologies Sector
 Ireland as a major player in emerging technologies and associated
markets
 Build National Capacity (ICT, Bio, Nano)  Build International
competitiveness
 Signficant Investment in Env Tech since 2005 (€30m)
 Successful programme: Surveyed €4.7m investment in 18 projects in
2005: 40+ Papers; 5 Patents; 1 start-up company
 Strong buy-in (leverage) from EPA chemists & inspectors
 Suite of research test-sites (wastewater and water)
Applied Research & Demonstration of Environmental
Technologies
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Adapting existing technologies
Developing new technologies
Strong policy basis
> 98% Metal
Removal
Bioplastic
using
Nanotechnology
from
Research
facility at
WWTP
waste
Novel Toxicity
testing –
replacement
animal trials
Research supporting Policy & Technology
DEPLOY (Universities, RBD & SME)
Started April 2009 – River Lee in Cork
Partners Trial (EPA/MI)
http://www.ids-deploy.com/
EPA_STRIVE Research Monitoring Framework
Research Monitoring Framework
Research Quality
Quality of Research Inputs
Quality of Research Outputs
Reputational Quality
Research Impact
Policy Impact
Commercial Impact
Collaborative Impact
G O’Leary, R. Boyle, B. Donlon & L. Sheils. Accountability and learning in
Environmental Research. Administration, Vol.55,No.4(2008), pp159-170.
Conclusions
 Environmental research is vital to underpin environmental
protection and the development of a smart green economy
 Environmental technologies represent a major opportunity for
Ireland
 EPA investment in ET and CGGP is building capacity and expertise
and supporting policy development
 Yielding wider economic benefits
 Vital that Ireland continues to foster an innovation-driven culture in
the ET field
 EPA is committed in the coming years to further prioritising its
research programme to target ET field and also to provide support
to innovators in businesses
 EPA committed to stronger links with national and international
funding agencies