Environmental Security Technical Certification Program

The Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) is a key initiative under the Office of the Secretary of Defense. It aims to demonstrate and validate innovative environmental and energy technologies. The program's primary goals include addressing urgent Department of Defense (DoD) needs by improving defense readiness through cost savings and enhanced efficiencies. It focuses on technologies that have completed necessary research and development stages and align with high-priority DoD requirements. Additionally, the program responds to congressional concerns about the slow remediation of polluted sites on military installations, aiming to reduce the financial burden on the Department's operation and maintenance resources.

A significant focus of ESTCP is on environmental technology demonstration and validation, particularly in areas such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) cleanup, unexploded ordnance (UXO) detection, and pollution prevention for weapons systems. The program supports compliance with various regulatory requirements, including the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation & Recovery Act. Planned activities for FY 2025 include continued demonstrations of PFAS destruction technologies, UXO mobility prediction tools, and sustainable manufacturing methods for military applications.

The ESTCP also emphasizes energy technology demonstration through its Installation Energy Test Bed Initiative. This initiative aims to enhance energy resilience, improve facility efficiency, and increase renewable energy use across DoD installations. For FY 2025, plans include evaluating microgrid operations, integrated solutions for energy demand reduction, and advanced district energy systems to improve overall system efficiency and reliability.

Additionally, the Sustainable Technologies Evaluation and Demonstration Program within ESTCP focuses on validating technologies that support operational readiness while being cost-effective. This includes demonstrating biobased products that improve maintenance efficiency and reduce environmental impacts. The program also addresses installation climate resilience by investing in projects that enhance infrastructure resilience against climate change impacts, with a focus on regions experiencing rapid ecological transformations.