In North-East England, a council-owned energy company has successfully provided heat energy to local homes by heating water in the depths of decommissioned mine works.
The concept has sent a bolt of inspiration to the opposite corner of the country. Mayor for the West of England, Dan Norris is launching a project to explore the potential of using disused mines in South Gloucestershire and Somerset as a source of renewable energy.
The new process involves a convection cycle of warm water through old mine workings. The water, heated by geothermal energy from the Earth’s core, is brought up through shafts or boreholes and passed through a heat exchanger. This process, when coupled with heat pumps, can efficiently provide low-carbon heat for homes, businesses, hospitals, and other end-users. The project aims to repurpose former mines, once sources of fossil fuels, for environmentally friendly purposes. Norris has committed £1.5m for a mapping study to identify viable locations. The initiative aligns with the goal of decarbonizing heating requirements and has the potential to contribute to the global effort to address climate change.
Source
West of England coalmines to be mapped for renewable energy potential, The Guardian, 2024-01-30
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