By Michelle Thomas and Mark
Varian
1. Current Legislation
1.1 Shallow Geothermal Systems
In practice, shallow geothermal systems have been developed in
Ireland for years without any specific licences being obtained. For
example, no current legislation covers the completion of boreholes
for the purpose of groundwater or site investigation as these
boreholes are classified as exempt developments in the General
Planning and Development Regulation 2001.
Also, a certain amount of flexibility exists within the current
planning regime such as the Planning Development Regulations 2007
which provides an exemption for certain domestic heat pumps from
Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations
2001. Similarly, the Planning and Development Regulations 2008
amends Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001
with regard to the installation of heat pumps in industrial
buildings or business premises.
