Benedicte Adelheide started at Ecoxy AS on January 1, 2023, and has spent the last few months going through a demanding training program to become certified as a verifier within the EU ETS regulations. The EU ETS is a large international climate quota system in Europe that encompasses a company's rights to emit greenhouse gases. This quota market is the EU's most important climate policy tool and is managed in Norway through the Norwegian Environment Agency.
Through her training, Adelheide has had the opportunity to familiarize herself with and visit several large industrial facilities. As a verifier, a typical workday consists of extensive reviews of a facility's calculations, accreditations, documentation of incidents, and communication data. These analyses must be conducted in accordance with the regulations and directives of the EU ETS and comply with the approvals granted by the Norwegian Environment Agency.
The EU quota system is primarily designed for industry and operates by setting a cap on how many CO2 equivalents can be emitted from year to year. This cap is reduced over time, leading to a decrease in emissions.
"As a verifier at Ecoxy, I have varied and content-rich days. We take our time to familiarize ourselves with the different companies and review emission permits, calculations, and documentation before we go out on verification visits," says Adelheide. "The variety of types of companies we have in our portfolio is large, and we gain knowledge about many different processes and industries along the way."
Last week, Adelheide went on a verification visit to Speira Holmestrand, an industrial company that supplies aluminum for construction and building-related products, packaging, and canned goods. In recent years, the focus on sustainability and recycled materials has contributed to an increase in demand for aluminum, something Speira Holmestrand is well aware of.
Quota-liable businesses have a deadline of March 31 each year to submit their annual reporting of quota-liable greenhouse gas emissions and allocation data to the Norwegian Environment Agency. However, before the reports can be submitted, they must be carefully reviewed by an accredited verifier in accordance with regulations and directives in the EU ETS.
Is your business quota-liable and would you like a quote or an informal chat with the verification department at Ecoxy? Please contact us at ets@ecoxy.no.
