Is geothermal drilling allowed without permission?

With most infrastructure development projects nowadays, a big part of the process typically consists of navigating a wide range of regulatory and other legal restrictions before things can get started. This applies to a lot of geothermal drilling projects as well. 

Due to the number of factors involved in these kinds of projects, it’s difficult to state whether or not any given project will be allowed without permission, without first examining all of the details of that specific project. 

That being said, there are a few factors that you can keep in mind if you’re considering investing in a geothermal energy project, which we’ve briefly outlined below. 

Planning permission

Whether or not you need to seek planning permission from local authorities for a geothermal drilling project will depend on a number of factors. 

If it’s a small-scale, closed-loop, shallow system being built for a home or small business, away from any protected areas and with no other impact on the surrounding area, then it’s possible that it won’t require planning permission. However, this is not a straightforward issue, and for new installations after October 1 2023, permits may need to be sought from the Environment Agency. 

For larger scale, commercial projects, planning permission is often a lot more complicated. Local authorities will need to approve the project, and this stage of the planning process can end up becoming a far more complex hurdle to jump. 

Environment Agency

In many situations, geothermal drilling projects will necessitate seeking a permit from the Environment Agency. This can apply to smaller-scale drilling projects for domestic use, but it particularly applies to large-scale energy extraction projects. 

Closed loop systems that don’t result in any interference with the area’s water quality are typically easier to navigate and seek permits for; however, where water needs to be discharged into the borehole or into cracks in the rock, as is the case in certain deep heat extraction projects in areas with granite and other hotter rocks, there will often need to be strict limits on place to contain the environmental impact these discharges might have.

The Environment Agency can also impose restrictions on temperature changes that would have undesirable impacts on the local environment. This can be a difficult area to navigate, and will need to be done with assistance from some kind of geothermal drilling consultant. 

Access rights

Geothermal drilling projects also require the consent of the landowner, which must be sought before the project gets underway. This will also typically apply to domestic contexts in which a smaller-scale heat pump is being installed in a rented property.  

In some cases, larger-scale commercial projects might necessitate gaining permission from multiple owners, which can end up being a reasonably complicated and time-consuming process. 

Clearly, there’s no black and white answer as to when a geothermal drilling project will require permission or not. In most cases, you’ll need to speak with a geothermal drilling consultant beforehand, so that you can gain access to more complete advice based on the particular details of your specific project.