diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 9813251c..3760be65 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,13 @@
 pyyaml>=6.0
-pycodestyle>=2.8.0
-netCDF4>=1.5.3
+pycodestyle>=2.9.1
+netCDF4>=1.6.1
 matplotlib>=3.5.2
-cartopy>=0.20.2
-scikit-learn>=1.0.2
-xarray>=0.11.3
+cartopy>=0.21.1
+scikit-learn>=1.1.2
+xarray>=2022.6.0
+seaborn>=0.12.2
+hvplot>=0.8.2
+nbconvert>=6.5.4
+bokeh>=3.1.1
+geopandas>=0.13.2
+geoviews>=1.10.0
diff --git a/requirements_emc.txt b/requirements_emc.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9813251c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/requirements_emc.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+pyyaml>=6.0
+pycodestyle>=2.8.0
+netCDF4>=1.5.3
+matplotlib>=3.5.2
+cartopy>=0.20.2
+scikit-learn>=1.0.2
+xarray>=0.11.3
diff --git a/src/eva/plotting/batch/base/plot_tools/figure_driver.py b/src/eva/plotting/batch/base/plot_tools/figure_driver.py
index fdc5cc1e..771233ca 100644
--- a/src/eva/plotting/batch/base/plot_tools/figure_driver.py
+++ b/src/eva/plotting/batch/base/plot_tools/figure_driver.py
@@ -46,6 +46,13 @@ def figure_driver(config, data_collections, timing, logger):
     # --------------------
     backend = graphics_section.get('plotting_backend')
 
+    if backend == 'Hvplot':
+        try:
+            import hvplot
+        except ImportError:
+            logger.abort("The hvplot backend is not available since hvplot is not in the environment.")
+            backend = 'Emcpy'
+
     # Create handler
     # --------------
     handler_class_name = backend + 'FigureHandler'