UK Coal Mines Set for Second Life as Geothermal Heat Hubs
Mine-water geothermal projects tap abandoned coal-field sites to deliver low-carbon heat across Britain
UK energy companies are increasingly turning flooded disused coal mines into geothermal heating sites, marking a significant shift in the country’s decarbonisation strategy.
Mine-water geothermal heat (MWGH) schemes leverage the naturally warmed water in flooded mine workings—which can reach around 20 °C—to supply clean, low-carbon heat via district-heating networks.
These developments carry particular weight in Britain, where heating accounts for roughly 40 per cent of total energy use and contributes 17-18 per cent of greenhouse-gas emissions.
A recent report by Durham University’s Energy Institute estimates that around a quarter of UK homes sit above former coal-field areas suitable for MWGH development.
One example is a scheme in Gateshead, North-East England, where a 6 MW mine-water network launched in March 2023 supplies heat to council homes, offices and civic buildings.
Despite growing momentum, the rollout of MWGH remains hindered by high upfront capital costs, fragmented regulation and a lack of financial incentives.
The Durham report warns that government policy still treats geothermal heat as a peripheral technology and calls for a clear regulatory framework alongside state-backed grants and low-interest loans to derisk investment.
In addition to renewable-heat benefits, MWGH projects offer socio-economic opportunities for former mining communities.
They can create skilled jobs in drilling, engineering and operations while revitalising regional economies long impacted by mine closures.
The UK government’s Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority) lists several schemes in operation or development, including sites in Wales and County Durham, and is working with local authorities to integrate mine-water heat into wider regeneration programmes.
Observers say the technology could be built out at scale within five years if the right mix of regulation and financing is put in place.
The report concludes that MWGH presents a compelling low-carbon, locally-sited heat solution that aligns with the UK’s net-zero ambitions—provided momentum is sustained and investment unlocked.
Mine-water geothermal heat (MWGH) schemes leverage the naturally warmed water in flooded mine workings—which can reach around 20 °C—to supply clean, low-carbon heat via district-heating networks.
These developments carry particular weight in Britain, where heating accounts for roughly 40 per cent of total energy use and contributes 17-18 per cent of greenhouse-gas emissions.
A recent report by Durham University’s Energy Institute estimates that around a quarter of UK homes sit above former coal-field areas suitable for MWGH development.
One example is a scheme in Gateshead, North-East England, where a 6 MW mine-water network launched in March 2023 supplies heat to council homes, offices and civic buildings.
Despite growing momentum, the rollout of MWGH remains hindered by high upfront capital costs, fragmented regulation and a lack of financial incentives.
The Durham report warns that government policy still treats geothermal heat as a peripheral technology and calls for a clear regulatory framework alongside state-backed grants and low-interest loans to derisk investment.
In addition to renewable-heat benefits, MWGH projects offer socio-economic opportunities for former mining communities.
They can create skilled jobs in drilling, engineering and operations while revitalising regional economies long impacted by mine closures.
The UK government’s Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority) lists several schemes in operation or development, including sites in Wales and County Durham, and is working with local authorities to integrate mine-water heat into wider regeneration programmes.
Observers say the technology could be built out at scale within five years if the right mix of regulation and financing is put in place.
The report concludes that MWGH presents a compelling low-carbon, locally-sited heat solution that aligns with the UK’s net-zero ambitions—provided momentum is sustained and investment unlocked.
