Renewable Energy Development Act Article 15-3

Geothermal energy development permit holders whose planned geothermal power generation equipment utilises the energy of hot springs below the surface of the earth shall apply to the water resources authority for registration of water rights in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Water Act before the geothermal power generation equipment is put into operation.The water rights mentioned in the preceding paragraph are limited to 20 years, and the installer of the geothermal power generation equipment may apply for an extension in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Water Act before the expiration of the period. Geothermal energy development permit holders shall obtain a renewable-energy-based electricity generating enterprises license, a self- use power generation equipment registration certificate, or a renewable energy power generation equipment registration document in accordance with the Electricity Act or this Act and its relevant regulations within the validity period of the geothermal energy development permit.In case the renewable-energy-based electricity generating enterprises license, self-use power generation equipment registration certificate,or renewable energy power generation equipment registration document of the geothermal power generation equipment installer is revoked, abolished, cancelled, or invalidated by the competent authority because of other reasons, the registration of water rights will lose its validity.The tail water reinjection into the formation after power generation shall reach more than 90% of the consumption. This restriction shall not apply to those approved by the central competent authority in accordance with the proviso of Paragraph 4 of Article 15-2. The installer of the geothermal power generation equipment mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall install a measuring device that complies with the format specified by the central competent authority to record the amount of water used for power generation, the amount of tail water reinjection, and other necessary matters on a daily basis, and send the data to the central competent authority and the municipal and county (city) water resources authorities on a quarterly basis for future reference.