National Contact Point for Renewable Energy Sources

Activities related to the exploration or recognition of mineral deposits in the form of thermal water do not require a concession (Article 21(1)(1) and (2) of the Geological and Mining Law in connection with Article 10(1)), but it is necessary to obtain Approval of the Geological Works Project.

According to the provisions of the Water Law and its implementing regulations, if thermal water from trial pumping of the borehole is discharged into a watercourse or surface water body, it is necessary to submit a Water Law Notification.

It is also permissible to introduce used thermal water into groundwater, provided that the competent authority for water law permits determines that such discharge does not conflict with environmental objectives for water or water quality requirements (Article 76(1)(5) of the Water Law). It should be noted that fees for discharging hot water are relatively high, and the introduction of used thermal water, as mentioned above, reduces the efficiency of the system.

An investor carrying out geological works based on the approved geological works project is obliged to continuously document the progress of geological works, including geological operations and their results (Article 82(1) of the Geological and Mining Law).

After completing geological works related to groundwater (thermal water), hydrogeological documentation must be prepared, which includes the results of geological works, their interpretation, an assessment of the degree to which the intended objective was achieved, along with justification (Article 88 of the Geological and Mining Law).

• geological structure and hydrogeological conditions of the studied area;
• conditions of groundwater occurrence, including characteristics of aquifers at a given level;
• information on chemical composition, physical properties, and other characteristics of water;
• possibilities for water extraction;
• boundaries of planned protective zones for groundwater intakes and protective areas of groundwater reservoirs;
• measures necessary for environmental protection, including those related to land properties, associated with the activity for which the documentation is prepared (Article 90(2) of the Geological and Mining Law).

Detailed requirements for hydrogeological documentation are set out in the Regulation of the Minister of Environment of 18 November 2016 on hydrogeological and geotechnical documentation (Journal of Laws 2016, item 2033).

Hydrogeological documentation is subject to approval.

In terms of formal requirements, the approval of hydrogeological documentation should correspond to the approval of geological documentation described above.

Hydrogeological documentation is approved by decision of the competent geological administration authority (the competent Marshal of the Voivodeship who approved the geological works project).

Other geological documentation prepared in connection with geological works that do not end with documenting mineral deposit resources or groundwater resources does not require approval by decision (Article 93(7) of the Geological and Mining Law in connection with Article 88(2)(4) and Article 92 of the same Act).

The documentation must be submitted in one paper copy and three electronic copies on data carriers within six months from the completion of works to the competent authority that approved the geological works project.

Documented mineral deposits and documented groundwater within the boundaries of planned protective zones for intakes and protective areas of groundwater reservoirs must be disclosed in municipal spatial development studies, Local Spatial Development Plans (MPZP), and regional spatial development plans (Article 95(1) of the Geological and Mining Law).