The Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) of Italy has adopted a new Ministerial Decree that introduces simplifies regulations for small or low-enthalpy geothermal systems. With this measure, the Ministry aims to speed up the installation of geothermal systems for buildings and businesses by reducing administrative burdens and enacting clear and uniform rules throughout Italy.
Article 3 of the Low-Enthalpy Geothermal Energy Decree introduces guidelines that simplify upon existing ones from the previous Geothermal Probes Decree of 2022. It also introduces the Single System for Renewable Energy (Sistema Unico per le Energie Rinnovabili / SUER) platform for permitting and public administration.
Permitting and reporting procedures
Among the most important parts of the new decree is the distinction between geothermal systems that fall under the Free Activity (Attività Libera) category and the Simplified Authorization Procedure (Procedura Abilitativa Semplificata / PAS) category. These apply to geothermal systems serving existing buildings. For geothermal systems in new buildings, a building permit covering the entire construction project is required.
A Free Activity project does not require permits, authorizations, or administrative approval. However, the implementing entity must communicate the project by submitting a form to the SUER platform within 5 days of the system’s entry into service. Activities that fall under the Free Activity category include the installation of geothermal probes to serve existing buildings that meet the following requirements:
- Maximum depth of 80 meters for vertical probes or 2 meters for horizontal probes
- Thermal power of less than 50 kW
Applicants for PAS-qualified projects must use the SUER platform using the single PAS form. The installation of geothermal probes serving under the PAS category must satisfy the following requirements:
- Maximum depth of 250 meters for vertical proves or 3 meters for horizontal probes
- Thermal power of less than 500 kW
Installation and documentation guidelines
The Ministerial Decree also introduces guidelines for the installation of geothermal probe systems. Among these guidelines is the requirement for vertical probes to maintain at least 4 meters distance from the site boundary, and the requirement to do Thermal Response Tests for systems with between 50 to 500 kW capacity. For smaller systems, existing data from literature may suffice.
Regions and autonomous provinces will be required to establish their own digital systems for the census and monitoring of geothermal probe systems. The information that must be uploaded may vary depending on the region.
Among the parameters that may be documented include the owner, designer, and contractor of the system, its location and coordinates, testing results, technical plan signed by a qualified technician, a post-construction report, and the monitoring of fluid temperatures for each season.
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Source: MASE and Rinnovabili.it
