Soil Energy

What is soil energy?

Ground energy can be used to sustainably heat and cool buildings, homes, greenhouses and factories. By using this energy, you help save fossil fuel. And you help reduce CO2 emissions. There are two systems for using this energy in the soil:

  1. In an open soil energy system, you use groundwater to cool or heat. Groundwater is cooler than the environment in the summer and warmer in the winter.
  2. In a closed soil energy system (ground heat exchanger), water passes through the soil in pipes without direct contact with groundwater.

If you want to make use of this energy, you need to report it or apply for a permit.

How does it work?

You arrange a notification or permit for soil energy through the Environment Desk.

Notification

A notification must be made at least 4 weeks before the start of construction of the soil energy system. Make a notification if:

  • You are building a closed system with a capacity less than 70 kW .
  • you are building an open system that extracts less than 10 m3 of groundwater per hour from the soil.

Please note that in an area with a soil energy plan, you cannot file a notification. There you must always apply for a permit.

Permit

A permit must be applied for at least 8 weeks before the start of construction of the soil energy system. Apply for a permit if:

  • you are building a closed system with a capacity greater than 70 kW.
  • you are building an open system that extracts 10 m3 or more of groundwater per hour from the ground.
  • You are building a system in an area subject to a soil energy plan.

Does it turn out that data or calculations are missing? If so, this will affect the processing time. The creation of your system may be delayed as a result. 

What to do.

Check with the Omgevingsloket to see if you need to report or apply for a permit.

The Environment Counter forwards your notification or permit application to the municipality. The municipality handles the application further for you.

Additional information

Since July 1, 2013, you must report when you build a closed system with a capacity of less than 70 kW. Did you have such a system before? Then it is advisable to make a voluntary notification. This is because whatever else happens in the ground should not be detrimental to your soil energy. In addition, the municipality will then have a more complete picture of the soil. This helps to make the best possible use of soil energy.