VITO's BAT-centre supports authorities in the implementation of BAT and the European IPPC Directive through the evaluation and development of policy instruments.
The BAT Centre bases its advice on a profound knowledge of environmental techniques, economic aspects and BAT evaluation. It has a unique role as it is involved in all aspects of IPPC and BAT determination, both on a national and international scale. In recent years, the BAT-Centre has evolved to become a leading player in IPPC implementation and support inside and outside Europe, with references in e.g. Spain, Slovenia, Greece, Israel and Asia.
Overview of activities and contacts
Contact: Dr. Karl Vrancken - VITO: karl.vrancken@vito.be - Tel. +32 14 33 58 68
VITO's BAT Centre plays a prominent role in the "Sevilla-process", i.e. the exchange of information to put the IPPC-Directive into practice.
On the input side, VITO represents the Belgian (Flemish) authorities in the European exchange of information on BAT. It participates in the Information Exchange Forum (IEF) and delegates sector experts to the Technical Working Groups of the BREFs. VITO's BAT Centre provides high quality information to the European IPPC Bureau to support the development of the BAT Reference documents (BREFs).
Until January 2004, a detached national expert from VITO worked in the European IPPC Bureau on the BREF Foundries and Smitheries (Dr. Karl Vrancken).
On the output side, VITO disseminates the results of the European information exchange on BAT to industry and authorities in the Flemish region of Belgium, through information sessions, workshops and training. Moreover, we provide additional guidance to policy makers and operators of IPPC plants on how to use the BREFs, by means of BREF checklists .
VITO's BAT-Centre develops international projects to support local authorities in the implementation of the IPPC Directive. We work as key experts in BAT selection, application of BREFs and IPPC permit writing.
We have recent project references in Slovenia (IPPC Twinning), Spain (Basque Country), Greece (Athens Region), Israel (Haifa Region) and Asia. See Example project for the Haifa Region .
The BAT-centre provides experts for training and capacity building in several Technical Assistance Information Exchange Office (TAIEX) workshops. Recently, it provided experts for training in Croatia, Romania, Serbia/Montenegro and Turkey. See Example presentation for Environmental information strategy in Turkey .
Building on its IPPC experience, VITO's BAT-Centre works as a consultant for the European Commission (DG ENV industrial Emissions Unit).
In view of the upcoming review of the IPPC Directive, we have been involved in several projects. VITO coordinated 2 projects on data gathering and impact assessment for a possible review of the IPPC Directive and 1 project on the assessment of the use of general binding rules. Project reports are available on the DG ENV CIRCA website.
Through these projects we have gained a profound understanding of the basis and mechanisms of IPPC, as well as the actual implementation practice of the IPPC Directive. We also closely follow the ongoing IPPC review process .
The definition of Best Available Techniques clearly reflects that, in addition to environmental benefits and technical practicability, economic viability is a necessary condition for selecting BAT. However, practical experience has shown that this economic evaluation is an arduous task for BREF writers, research people, and policy makers. VITO's BAT centre developed a number of practical tools to assess the affordability and the cost-effectiveness of possible BAT investments.
Our expertise is reflected in the European reference document on Economics and cross-media issues, available at the European IPPC Bureau.
Contact: Peter Vercaemst VITO peter.vercaemst@vito.be - +3214335863
European Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Bureau
The website of the European IPPC Bureau shows the progress of the BREF-writing work. All draft and final versions of BREFs can be downloaded. The site also gives general infomation on the IPPC Directive and the Sevilla process.
IPPC webpage of DG Environment
The IPPC webpage of DG Environment presents a lot of background information on the IPPC-Directive and the IPPC-process.
Umweltbundesamt (Germany)
The German Federal Environmental Agency is the scientific environmental authority under the jurisdiction of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), responsible for the most diverse range of topics.
Environment Agency (England and Wales)
Environment Agency is the leading public body for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales.
Infomil (the Netherlands)
InfoMil is an organisation that serves as an intermediary between the various authorities and target groups in The Netherlands.
Ineris (France)
Ineris is a public institution with industrial and commercial dimensions, under the supervision of the ministry for national and regional development and the environment.
This institute has a mission of assessing and preventing accidental and chronic risks to people and the environment due to industrial plants, chemical substances and underground operations.
BAT centre | VITO BAT notes | European BREFs | Environmental Costing Model
