Solar plants also conceivable in water protection zones

08/04/2023

Source: Energy & Management Powernews

Also in water protection areas, the renewable expansion is feasible. To what extent, the German Association of Gas and Water (DVGW) has worked out.

A current position paper describes the possibilities under which conditions renewable energy production is also possible in water conservation areas. It was prepared by the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water (DVGW), which with its technical rules also sets the standard for technical self-governance and self-responsibility of the gas and water industry in Germany.

For three protection zones in areas with sensitive groundwater or drinking water deposits, the DVGW provides recommendations for action with which authorities and renewable energy project developers can work. The protection zones differ in the degree of restrictions on infrastructure measures.

In principle, water utilities would also benefit from renewable energies, says DVGW Board Member Wolf Merkel. This is because, in addition to their contribution to the energy transition in general, they also "significantly" ensure a climate-neutral and fail-safe energy supply for water production facilities. Wolf Merkel is therefore very interested in a careful weighing between the aspects of climate and drinking water protection.

Protection zones I to III: No rule without exception

The DVGW wants to contribute to this with the considerations on the three protection zones formulated in the position paper. In the most far-reaching protected zone I construction and operation of renewable plants are actually generally prohibited. Nevertheless, the DVGW sees opportunities here for solar systems on roofs. This is only conceivable for existing buildings of the water suppliers, because this avoids interventions in the ground.

The protection zone II is "as a rule" to be kept free of production facilities. No rule without exception: to permissions it could come in individual cases, if it concerns open space solar power plants. Last year, the DEW21 subsidiary Wasserwerke Westfalen (WWW) and Gelsenwasser had already demonstrated this with a ground-mounted plant at the Echthausen waterworks (we reported). The DVGW attaches importance however to the statement that the building must get along without considerable interferences into the underground and no materials would come to the employment, which are dangerous for the water.

The largest surface in question makes the protection zone III. Here, there is also more leeway for renewable developers, provided special environmental and water protections are met. As is customary in approval procedures, interested parties must weigh the protected interests against each other and justify this "substantially and in detail," according to the DVGW. For this purpose, a hazard analysis and a risk assessment would have to produce the result that "risks can be safely controlled or at least minimized with suitable measures."

The DVGW has already made the position paper "Generation of renewable energy in groundwater protection areas - promoting expansion and protecting drinking water resources" available for download on the Internet since April.

Author: Volker Stephan