Accessing Scotland's geothermal resource: regulatory guidance

Guidance prepared with key stakeholders outlining the regulatory framework for exploring and exploiting Scotland's geothermal resource.


Reference material

Environmental protection

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

SEPA: Guidance on Requirements for Activities Related to Geothermal Energy

Water Environment (Controlled Activities)(Scotland) Regulations 2011

SEPA: Practical guide to the Water Environment (Controlled Activities)(Scotland) Regulations 2011

SEPA: Guidance on licences required for drilling and operation of deep boreholes

Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018

SEPA: Authorisation guide for radioactive substances activities

SEPA: Good practice for decommissioning redundant boreholes and wells

SEPA: An applicant’s guide to water supply boreholes

SEPA: Regulatory Method: Licensing Groundwater Abstractions including Dewatering

SEPA: Regulatory Method: Modelling methods for groundwater abstractions

SEPA: Supporting Guidance: Application of Standards to Thermal Discharges

SEPA: Regulatory Method: Trade Effluent Discharges to Groundwater

SEPA/Environment Agency/Natural Resource Wales: Technical guidance on the classification and assessment of waste

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

Planning

Scottish Government: National Planning Framework 4

Scottish Government: Guidance on Ministerial involvement in planning decisions

Town and Country Planning (Hierarchy of Developments) (Scotland) Regulations 2009

Planning Circular 5/2009: Guidance on the hierarchy of developments

Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997

Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2013

Town and Country Planning (Development Planning) (Scotland) Regulations 2023

Planning Circular 3/2022: Guidance on development management procedures governing applications for planning permission

Local Development Planning Guidance

Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017

Planning Circular 1/2017: Guidance on the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations

Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994

NatureScot guidance on the Habitats Regulations

Town and Country Planning (Hierarchy of Developments) (Scotland) Regulations 2009

Planning Circular 5/2009: Guidance on the hierarchy of developments

Health and safety

Health and Safety Executive

HSE short guide to health and safety regulation

Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974

HSE guidance on the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974

Guidance on managing the risk of hazardous gases when drilling or piling near coal

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002

HSE guidance on the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015

HSE guidance on the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998

HSE guidance on the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013

HSE brief guide to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013

Borehole Sites and Operations Regulations 1995

HSE guide to the Borehole Sites and Operations Regulations 1995

Offshore Installations and Wells (Design and Construction etc) Regulations 1996

HSE guide to the well aspects of the Offshore Installations and Wells (Design and Construction, etc) Regulations 1996

Work at Height Regulations 2005

HSE guidance on the Work at Height Regulations 2005

Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000

HSE guidance on the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000

Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992

HSE guidance on the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992

Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998

HSE guidance on the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998

Permission to access land and property

Coal Authority

Coal Authority: Guide to getting a coal mining licence or other consent

Additional notification requirements

Water (Scotland) Act 1980

National Geoscience Data Centre

NGDC: Notification of intention to drill a borehole or sink a well

NGDC Digital Data Deposit Application

Borehole Record Form

NGDC: Legal Obligations and Drilling Guidance

Contact

Email: johann.macdougall@gov.scot

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