January 31, 2024 - Disused coal mines are being investigated as a potential low-carbon heat source to support former British mining communities.

National mapping agency Ordnance Survey (OS) is collaborating with the Coal Authority on a project to explore the types of buildings and the demand for heating and cooling in coalfield areas. 

Recovering heat from mine water is seen as a proven technology, and could provide a sustainable, secure and low carbon heat resource for homes, offices, industry and agriculture. 

OS and the Coal Authority are seeking to quantify just how many homes, businesses and buildings could potentially benefit. Initial results showed that there are just over six million homes, and over 300,000 offices and businesses above abandoned coal mines, but it has not yet been established how many of these addresses could ultimately benefit. The Coal Authority hopes that sharing this information will open up conversations with local authorities and developers who are looking into decarbonising their heating supply, and inspire them to consider mine water heat.

Since last spring, 350 homes, council and privately owned offices, a college and an arts centre in Gateshead have been supplied with heating by a mine water heat scheme.

Over 60 local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales contain recorded mine workings and are classed as Priority 1 “levelling up” areas.