Contact the responsible authority at an early stage. They can clarify in advance whether the location is generally suitable for your hydropower utilisation project.
Tip:If possible, arrangean appointment with the authority for preliminary clarificationon site at the watercourse. Although preliminary clarifications based on only a few documents are helpful for planning the project, they have only limited significancefor the final decision in thesubsequent procedure.

There are therefore different procedures for the actual authorisation:

• Planning approval procedure
  You must carry out a planning approval procedure if the following points apply:
  • The planned hydropower utilisation will lead to therthe creation, removal or significant modificationlof a watercourse or its banks.
  • These interventions are so extensive that an environmental impact assessment is required.
    Note: Subject to Section 19 (1) of the Water Resources Act (WHG), the planning approval decision replaces all official authorisations required under other legislation.
• Planning approval procedure
  Planning approval may be sufficient for measures such as fish ladders.
• Permit and authorisation procedure
  As the use of hydropower is associated with the use of water bodies, you regularly need apermit or authorisation under water law.In the case ofplanning approval,the planningapprovalauthorityalso decides on the granting of the permit or authorisation.

Tip: Clarify directly with the responsible authority which procedure you need to choose for your project.