Conditions of use of near-surface geothermal energy for geothermal collectors (up to 5 m depth) in Lower Saxony 1: 500 000 (WMS Service)

The map “Terms of use of near-surface geothermal energy — geothermal heat collectors” shows a classification in three area categories for geothermal use by geothermal heat collectors. • no grounds for restriction known in the LBEG for geothermal use, • Reasons for restriction known in the LBEG for geothermal use, • Use of geothermal heat is prohibited. This classification was drawn up in accordance with the approval procedure for the installation and operation of geothermal heat collectors described in the Guide “Earth Heat Use in Lower Saxony”. It expressly does not contain any information on the technical development possibilities of geothermal heat. The map is based on the information available for the Land of Lower Saxony on all topics summarised in the legend and applies to geothermal heat collectors which, by definition, interfere with the subsoil up to 5 m depth. The competent Lower Water Authority shall examine whether the conditions for the construction and operation of a geothermal heat collector plant are met in the areas where there are grounds for restriction known to the LBEG and in areas where there are no grounds for restriction in the LBEG, on the basis of the required notification or application and location conditions. — In areas where the LBEG is not aware of any restrictions, the Lower Water Authority shall check whether it has any further information not included in the LBEG map for the site. If there are no grounds for restricting the geothermal heat project, the planned project can be processed using the notification procedure. The requirements for construction and operation for the use of geothermal heat (Annex 1b) as described in the Guide “Earth Heat Use in Lower Saxony” must be observed. If there is a concern at the planned site due to reasons for restriction, the notification shall be considered as an application for a permit under water law, provided that the applicant has expressed this in his application. In the context of an individual water law assessment, the Lower Water Authority determines whether and under what conditions geothermal heat utilisation is possible. The Lower Water Authority assesses which requirements in addition to the general requirements of the Guide must be issued within the framework of a permit pursuant to Sections 8 and 9 of the WHG. In this case, the applicant will receive a permit under water law with ancillary provisions. — In areas where restrictions are known to the LBEG (see Guide “Earth Heat Use in Lower Saxony”, Location Factors Chapter 6), the Lower Water Authority first examines whether the stated reasons for restriction are relevant to the planned geothermal heat project or are not applicable at the site, e.g. because the reason for restriction occurs at a greater depth and the planned geothermal heat plant does not reach that depth. Should there be no concern at the planned site due to these constraints, the Lower Water Authority shall check whether further information is available at the site that is not included in the map of the LBEG. If, again, there are no grounds for restricting the geothermal heat project, the planned project can be processed by means of the notification procedure. The requirements for construction and operation for the use of geothermal heat (Annex 1b) as described in the Guide “Earth Heat Use in Lower Saxony” must be observed. If there is a concern at the planned site due to reasons for restriction, the notification shall be considered as an application for a permit under water law, provided that the applicant has expressed this in his application. In the context of an individual water law assessment, the Lower Water Authority determines whether and under what conditions geothermal heat utilisation is possible. The Lower Water Authority assesses which requirements in addition to the general requirements of the Guide must be issued within the framework of a permit pursuant to Sections 8 and 9 of the WHG. In this case, the applicant will receive a permit under water law with ancillary provisions. The different reasons for assigning an area to this area category are summarised in the legend. — In the prohibited areas, the use of geothermal heat is prohibited due to the proximity to water extraction facilities. In these areas, the implementation of a geothermal project by the Lower Water Authority is generally rejected. The different reasons for assigning an area to this area category are summarised in the legend. If a secure allocation of a location on the basis of the map is not possible or if there are other local indications of conditions that influence the use of near-surface geothermal heat, the Lower Water Authority or, where applicable, the LBEG will provide assistance on request. The data are used for an initial assessment of the conditions of use for geothermal heat collectors and do not replace the concrete inspection in the context of plant construction on the basis of the local conditions. Further information on legal and technical basics can be found in the “Guide for Geothermal Use in Lower Saxony” (Geobericht 24).《近地表地热能使用条款——地热集热器》地图将地热集热器的地热利用划分为三类区域： • LBEG未发现地热利用存在限制依据； • LBEG发现地热利用存在限制依据； • 地热利用被禁止。 该分类依据《下萨克森州地热能利用指南》中规定的地热集热器安装与运行审批流程制定，且明确不含地热技术开发可能性相关信息。本地图基于下萨克森州汇总于图例之中的全主题可用信息编制，适用于按定义会扰动至地下5米深度土层的地热集热器。主管下萨克森州水利部门需依据要求提交的通知、申请及场地条件，核查LBEG已知存在限制依据及无限制依据区域内，地热集热器电站的建设与运行条件是否符合要求。 — 对于LBEG未发现限制依据的区域，水利主管部门需核查该场地是否存在LBEG地图未涵盖的其他信息。若地热项目无限制依据，则可通过通知流程推进规划项目。需严格遵循《下萨克森州地热能利用指南》中规定的地热利用建设与运行要求（附件1b）。若规划场地因限制依据存在潜在问题，且申请人在申请中明确提出该诉求，则该通知将被视为水法下的许可申请。在单项水法评估框架内，水利主管部门将判定地热热能利用是否可行及对应的实施条件。水利主管部门还需评估，除指南的通用要求外，还需依据德国《水法》（WHG）第8条和第9条的许可框架增设哪些要求。此种情况下，申请人将获得附带附加条款的水法许可。 — 对于LBEG已发现限制依据的区域（详见《下萨克森州地热能利用指南》第6章“场地影响因素”），水利主管部门首先需核查既定限制依据是否与规划地热项目相关，或在该场地是否不适用——例如限制依据源于更深土层，而规划地热电站未触及该深度。若基于上述限制，规划场地无潜在问题，则水利主管部门需核查该场地是否存在LBEG地图未涵盖的其他信息。若再次确认地热项目无限制依据，则可通过通知流程推进规划项目，且需严格遵循《下萨克森州地热能利用指南》规定的地热利用建设与运行要求（附件1b）。若规划场地因限制依据存在潜在问题，且申请人在申请中明确提出该诉求，则该通知将被视为水法下的许可申请。在单项水法评估框架内，水利主管部门将判定地热热能利用是否可行及对应的实施条件，并评估除指南通用要求外，还需依据德国《水法》（WHG）第8条和第9条的许可框架增设哪些要求。此种情况下，申请人将获得附带附加条款的水法许可。本类区域的划定依据汇总于图例之中。 — 禁止使用区域：因邻近取水设施，地热利用被明令禁止。此类区域内，水利主管部门通常不予批准地热项目的实施。 本类区域的划定依据汇总于图例之中。若无法基于本地图精准划定场地位置，或存在其他影响近地表地热能利用的场地相关线索，水利主管部门或相应的LBEG将应请求提供协助。本数据仅用于地热集热器使用条件的初步评估，不得替代基于场地实际情况开展的电站建设具体核查工作。更多法律与技术基础信息可参阅《下萨克森州地热能利用指南》（Geobericht 24）。