The SuK-Nord (INSPIRE) shows the geological distribution of aggregates (sand and gravel) in Northern Germany, especially north of the southernmost maximum of the Scandinavian inland ice sheet (Saalian and Elsterian glaciation). According to the Data Specifications on Mineral Resources (D2.8.III.21) and Geology (D2.8.II.4_v3.0) the content of the map is stored in two INSPIRE-compliant GML files: SuK_Nord_EarthResource_polygon.gml contains the distribution of aggreagtes (sand and gravel) as polygons. SuK_Nord_GeomorphologicFeature.gml contains the southernmost maximum of the Scandinavian inland ice sheet (Saalian and Elsterian glaciation) as lines. The GML files together with a Readme.txt file are provided in ZIP format (SuK_Nord-INSPIRE.zip). The Readme.text file (German/English) contains detailed information on the GML files content. Data transformation was proceeded by using the INSPIRE Solution Pack for FME according to the INSPIRE requirements.

InSpEE (INSPIRE) provides information about the areal distribution of salt structures (salt domes and salt pillows) in Northern Germany. Contours of the salt structures can be displayed at horizontal cross-sections at four different depths up to a maximum depth of 2000 m below NN. The geodata have resulted from a BMWi-funded research project “InSpEE” running from the year 2012 to 2015. The acronym stands for "Information system salt structures: planning basis, selection criteria and estimation of the potential for the construction of salt caverns for the storage of renewable energies (hydrogen and compressed air)”. Additionally four horizontal cross-section maps display the stratigraphical situation at a given depth. In concurrence of maps at different depths areal bedding conditions can be determined, e.g. to generally assess and interpret the spread of different stratigraphic units. Clearly visible are extent and shape of the salt structures within their regional context at the different depths, with extent and boundary of the salt structures having been the main focus of the project. Four horizontal cross-section maps covering the whole onshore area of Northern Germany have been developed at a scale of 1:500.000. The maps cover the depths of -500, -1000, -1500, -2000 m below NN. The four depths are based on typical depth requirements of existing salt caverns in Northern Germany, mainly related to hydrocarbon storage. The shapes of the structures show rudimentary information of their geometry and their change with depths. In addition they form the starting point for rock mechanical calculations necessary for the planning and construction of salt caverns for storage as well as for assessing storage potentials. The maps can be used as a pre-selection tool for subsurface uses. It can also be used to assess coverage and extension of salt structures. Offshore areas were not treated within the project. All horizontal cross-section maps were adjusted with the respective state geological survey organisations. According to the Data Specification on Geology (D2.8.II.4_v3.0) the content of InSpEE (INSPIRE) is stored in 15 INSPIRE-compliant GML files: InSpEE_GeologicUnit_Salt_structure_types.gml contains the salt structure types (salt domes and salt pillows), InSpEE_GeologicUnit_Salt_pillow_remnants.gml comprises the salt pillow remnants, InSpEE_GeologicUnit_Structure_building_salinar.gml represents the structural salinar(s), the four files InSpEE_Structural_outlines_500.gml, InSpEE_Structural_outlines_1000.gml, InSpEE_Structural_outlines_1500.gml and InSpEE_Structural_outlines_2000.gml represent the structural outlines in the corresponding horizontal cross-sections, the four files InSpEE_GeologicUnit_Cross_Section_500, InSpEE_GeologicUnit_Cross_Section_1000, InSpEE_GeologicUnit_Cross_Section_1500 and InSpEE_GeologicUnit_Cross_Section_2000 display the stratigraphical situation in the corresponding horizontal cross-sections and the four files InSpEE_GeologicStructure_500.gml, InSpEE_GeologicStructure_1000.gml, InSpEE_GeologicStructure_1500.gml and InSpEE_GeologicStructure_2000.gml comprise the relevant fault traces in the corresponding horizontal cross-sections. The GML files together with a Readme.txt file are provided in ZIP format (InSpEE-INSPIRE.zip). The Readme.text file (German/English) contains detailed information on the GML files content. Data transformation was proceeded by using the INSPIRE Solution Pack for FME according to the INSPIRE requirements.

The WMS InSpEE (INSPIRE) provides information about the areal distribution of salt structures (salt domes and salt pillows) in Northern Germany. Contours of the salt structures can be displayed at horizontal cross-sections at four different depths up to a maximum depth of 2000 m below NN. The geodata have resulted from a BMWi-funded research project “InSpEE” running from the year 2012 to 2015. The acronym stands for "Information system salt structures: planning basis, selection criteria and estimation of the potential for the construction of salt caverns for the storage of renewable energies (hydrogen and compressed air)”. Taking into account the fact that this work was undertaken at a scale for providing an overview and not for investigation of single structures, the scale of display is limited to a minimum of 1:300.000. Additionally four horizontal cross-section maps display the stratigraphical situation at a given depth. In concurrence of maps at different depths areal bedding conditions can be determined, e.g. to generally assess and interpret the spread of different stratigraphic units. Clearly visible are extent and shape of the salt structures within their regional context at the different depths, with extent and boundary of the salt structures having been the main focus of the project. Four horizontal cross-section maps covering the whole onshore area of Northern Germany have been developed at a scale of 1:500.000. The maps cover the depths of -500, -1000, -1500, -2000 m below NN. The four depths are based on typical depth requirements of existing salt caverns in Northern Germany, mainly related to hydrocarbon storage. The shapes of the structures show rudimentary information of their geometry and their change with depths. In addition they form the starting point for rock mechanical calculations necessary for the planning and construction of salt caverns for storage as well as for assessing storage potentials. The maps can be used as a pre-selection tool for subsurface uses. It can also be used to assess coverage and extension of salt structures. Offshore areas were not treated within the project. All horizontal cross-section maps were adjusted with the respective state geological survey organisations. According to the Data Specification on Geology (D2.8.II.4_v3.0) the WMS InSpEE (INSPIRE) provides INSPIRE-compliant data. The WMS InSpEE (INSPIRE) contains two group layers: The first group layer “INSPIRE: Salt structures in Northern Germany“ comprises the layers GE.Geologic.Unit.Salt structure types, GE.GeologicUnit.Salt pillow remnants, GE.GeologicUnit.Structure-building salinar and GE.GeologicUnit.Structural outlines. The layer GE.GeologicUnit.Structural outlines contains according to the four depths four sublayers, e.g. GE.GeologiUnit.Structural outlines 500 m below NN. The second group layer „INSPIRE: Horizontal cross-section maps of Northern Germany“ comprises according to the four depths four layers, e.g. Horizontal cross-section map – 500 m below NN. This layer, in turns, contains two sublayers: GE.GeologicFault.Relevant fault traces and GE.GeologicUnit.Stratigraphic Units. Via the getFeatureInfo request the user obtains additional information on the different geometries. In case of the GE.Geologic.Unit.Salt structure types the user gets access to a data sheet with additional information and further reading in German for the respective salt structure via the getFeatureInfo request.

Which salt formations are suitable for storing hydrogen or compressed air? In the InSpEE-DS research project, scientists developed requirements and criteria for the assessment of suitable sites even if their exploration is still at an early stage and there is little knowledge of the salinaries’ structures. Scientists at DEEP.KBB GmbH in Hanover, worked together with their project partners at the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources and the Leibniz University Hanover, Institute for Geotechnics Hanover, to develop the planning basis for the site selection and for the construction of storage caverns in flat layered salt and multiple or double saliniferous formations. Such caverns could store renewable energy in the form of hydrogen or compressed air. While the previous project InSpEE was limited to salt formations of great thickness in Northern Germany, salt horizons of different ages have now been examined all over Germany. To estimate the potential, depth contour maps of the top and the base as well as thickness maps of the respective stratigraphic units and reference profiles were developed. Information on compressed air and hydrogen storage potential were given for the identified areas and for the individual federal states. The web service "Information system for flat layered salt" gives access to this data. The scale of display is limited to a minimum of 1:300.000. This geographic information is product of a BMWi-funded research project "InSpEE-DS" running from the year 2015 to 2019. The acronym stands for "Information system salt: planning basis, selection criteria and estimation of the potential for the construction of salt caverns for the storage of renewable energies (hydrogen and compressed air) - double saline and flat salt layers".

Which salt formations are suitable for storing hydrogen or compressed air? In the InSpEE-DS research project, scientists developed requirements and criteria for the assessment of suitable sites even if their exploration is still at an early stage and there is little knowledge of the salinaries’ structures. Scientists at DEEP.KBB GmbH in Hanover, worked together with their project partners at the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources and the Leibniz University Hanover, Institute for Geotechnics Hanover, to develop the planning basis for the site selection and for the construction of storage caverns in flat layered salt and multiple or double saliniferous formations. Such caverns could store renewable energy in the form of hydrogen or compressed air. While the previous project InSpEE was limited to salt formations of great thickness in Northern Germany, salt horizons of different ages have now been examined all over Germany. To estimate the potential, depth contour maps of the top and the base as well as thickness maps of the respective stratigraphic units and reference profiles were developed. The information on compressed air and hydrogen storage potential in the federal states is linked to the identified areas with usable potential in the Layer Storage potential in the federal states (Speicherpotenzial in den Bundesländern). Via the getFeatureInfo request, the user obtains additional information on the different geometries. This enables access to the criteria catalog data sheet in the layer Potential storage areas for flat layered salt (Potenzielle Speichergebiete flach lagernde Salze) of each stratigraphic unit and to the illustrations of borehole profiles and borehole correlations in the layers Boreholes (Bohrungen) and Borehole correlations (Bohrungskorrelationen). Spatial selection and data queries are possible for the following data sets: Boreholes (Bohrungen), Borehole correlations (Bohrungskorrelationen), Isobath (Isobathen), Isopach (Isopachen), Boundary elements of the potential areas Top Zechstein (Begrenzungselemente der Potenzialgebiete Top Zechstein), Storage potential in the federal states (Speicherpotenzial in den Bundesändern) and potential storage areas in the flat layered Zechstein salt (Potenzielle Speichergebiete flach lagernde Zechsteinsalze). The scale of display is limited to a minimum of 1:300.000. This geographic information is product of a BMWi-funded research project "InSpEE-DS" running from the year 2015 to 2019. The acronym stands for "Information system salt: planning basis, selection criteria and estimation of the potential for the construction of salt caverns for the storage of renewable energies (hydrogen and compressed air) - double saline and flat salt layers".