Green-Innovation Research for Environmental Protection in Ireland

ENVITECH-Net Katowice 22-23 October 2009

Lisa Sheils, Environmental Protection Agency Ireland

About the EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent public body established under the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992.

Other main instruments from which it derives its mandate are the Waste Management Act, 1996, and the Protection of the Environment Act, 2003.

The EPA has a wide range of functions to protect the environment. Its primary activities include:

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

HeadquartersWexford

Inspectorates DublinCorkCastlebarMonaghanKilkenny

Regional Offices MallowAthloneLimerickLetterkenny

EPA Environmental Research Programme

R&D Programme (94-99)

€3m

ERTDI Programme (2000-2006)

€55m

STRIVE Programme (2007-2013)

€103m

Areas Covered Environmental Technologies, Climate Change, Waste Resource Mgt & Chemicals, Water

Quality, Air Quality, Biodiversity, Soils, Land Cover, Socio-Economics, Environment & Health

Funding TypesScholarships, Fellowships, Large Multi-Interdisciplinary Projects

Business Support – Cleaner Greener Production 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

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 2007-2013

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 2007-2013STRIVE – SScience TTechnology, RResearch & IInnovvation for the

EEnvironment 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

Financial Savings: €1.6m per annum

ROI = 80-115% depending on payback period used 5/10 years.

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

Adapting existing technologies Developing new technologies Strong policy basis

> 98% Metal Removal

using Nanotechnology

Bioplastic

from

waste

Novel Toxicity testing – replacement animal trials

Research facility at WWTP

Research supporting Policy & Technology

DEPLOY (Universities, RBD & SME)

Started April 2009 – River Lee in Cork Partners Trial (EPA/MI)http://www.ids-deploy.com/

Research Monitoring FrameworkResearch Monitoring Framework

Research QualityResearch Quality Research ImpactResearch Impact

QualityQuality of Research InputsQualityQuality of Research OutputsReputational QualityQuality

Policy ImpactImpactCommercial ImpactImpactCollaborative ImpactImpact

EPA_STRIVE Research Monitoring Framework

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