Germany

National legislative documents

CHP Act

CHP Act Gesetz für die Erhaltung, die Modernisierung und den Ausbau der Kraft-Wärme-Kopplung 
Summary Combined Heat and Power (CHP), or cogeneration, is the simultaneous production of electricity and heat in one single, highly efficient process.
Aim of this act is to foster the realisation of new or reconstruction of existing high efficient cogeneration plants in order to produce electricity and heat in a resource saving way.
Main provisions Application and further administrative details for the implementation of generation of electricity from waste heat
Information important for WH utilization process 
(specific information to permissions and documents)

ORC plants for the generation of electricity from waste heat are also included in the financial support for CHP plants.
Within the CHP Act also subsidies for new or modernised district heating networks defined.

Link: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/kwkg_2016/index.html#BJNR249810015BJNE000501118

Building regulation

Building regulation Thüringer Bauordnung
Summary

The building regulation defines the requirements for buildings.

Main provisions

The building regulation describes technical requirements concerning following main fields:

  • Common technical requirements
  • Mechanical solidity and stability
  • Fire protection
  • Hygiene, healthiness and environmental protection
  • User safety and accessibility
  • Noise protection
  • Energy saving and heat insulation
  • Guidelines and exceptions
  • Special provisions
Information important for WH utilization process 
(specific information to permissions and documents)
District heating pipelines for the transport of waste heat don’t fall under the building regulation. 
It can be relevant for bigger heat storages or even if an additional building for heat generation is needed.
Link: http://landesrecht.thueringen.de/jportal/?quelle=jlink&query=BauO+TH&psml=bsthueprod.psml&max=true&aiz=true  

Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy Heating Law Gesetz zur Förderung Erneuerbarer Energien im Wärmebereich (EEWärmeG)
Summary

The law aims to foster the share of renewable energy sources for the heat and cooling supply in new buildings up to 14 % until 2020. 

The law applies accordingly to public buildings which will be modernisted.

Main provisions

The law includes the requirements of the use of renewable energy sources for the heat and cooling supply in new buildings:

  • Minimum share of 15 % of the total heat and cooling demand for solar energy
  • Minimum share of 30 % of the total heat and cooling demand for gaseous biomass
  • Minimum share of 50 % of the total heat and cooling demand for fluid and hard biomass as well environmental and geothermal heat
Information important for WH utilization process 
(specific information to permissions and documents)

The use of waste is defined as compensing measure if the share of waste heat is higher than 50 % (§ 7). District heating companies which are able to supply heat with this high share of waste heat have real incentives for existing or even for new building owners.

Link: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/eew_rmeg/

Federal Immission Control Act

Federal Immission Control Act Bundes-Immisionsschutzgesetz (BImSchG)
Summary It is the purpose of this Act to protect human beings, animals and plants, the soil, water, the atmosphere as well as cultural assets and other material goods against harmful effects on the environment and, to the extent that this concerns installations subject to licensing, also from hazards, considerable disadvantages and considerable nuisance caused in any other way, and to take precautions against the emergence of any such harmful effects on the environment.
Main provisions

The provisions of this Act shall apply to

  • the establishment and operation of installations,
  • the production, marketing and importation of installations, fuels, substances and products made of any such substances,
  • the nature, equipment, operation and testing of motor vehicles including their trailers, and of railborne vehicles, aircraft and watercraft as well as floating bodies and floating installations and
  • the construction of public roads as well as railways, magnetic suspension railways and tramways.
Information important for WH utilization process 
(specific information to permissions and documents)

The Act is the base for different further regulations which have an indirectly influence on waste heat utilization process. It’s relevant for waste heat sources, for example thermal, power or cogeneration plants depending on their size.

On the other hand, this Act could have influence on a new district heating system  which feeds waste heat and which needs an additional thermal plant to cover the peak load.

Link: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetz

Planning of an investment
Environmental permits