Groundbreaking progress in using mine water for sustainable heat

Construction has officially begun on a landmark project that will use mine water to provide green heat, building on ongoing efforts to harness geothermal energy from disused coal mines. By tapping into water already being pumped to the surface, this project represents a significant step forward in expanding renewable heating solutions in former coalfield regions.

The new Energy Centre, located next to the Mining Remediation Authority’s Dawdon Mine Water Treatment Scheme in County Durham, will utilise mine water that is already being treated. This water will not only provide heat for a new housing development but also safeguard a vital drinking water source.

Seaham Garden Village, a new mixed-use sustainable community located south of Seaham, will feature 1,500 homes, a primary school, village centre, and innovation hubs. The development is set to be completed over the next 10 years.

The district heat network project is being led by Durham County Council, with the Mining Remediation Authority at the helm of the mine water heating initiative. Several organisations, including Karbon Homes, which will provide 750 affordable homes and has been a leader in adopting mine water heat technology, are also involved. Vital Energi has been selected to design, build, and operate the low-carbon heating system, which will serve the district heat network for the next 40 years.

This project has received funding from the Government’s Heat Networks Investment Project, which has made it possible.

Seaham Garden Village will serve as a thriving, sustainable community on Durham’s heritage coast, playing a key role in local growth. The cutting-edge energy centre will harness geothermal heat from the warm mine water, which stays at a constant underground temperature. This heat will be upgraded to domestic heating levels using a heat pump, providing low-cost and low-carbon heating to Karbon Homes’ new residents.

Richard Bond, Innovation and Services Director at the Mining Remediation Authority, commented, "This project marks another milestone in our journey to use mine water heat for sustainable heating solutions across former coalfields. There is immense potential to use water treatment facilities nationwide, where warm mine water is already being pumped to the surface, and we’re exploring opportunities in multiple regions. The Dawdon scheme is a model for utilising mine water as a low-carbon heat source, following the success of similar projects in Gateshead and Lanchester Wines."

The Dawdon scheme, which began treating mine water in 2009, has been a key part of the Mining Remediation Authority’s research into adding heating capabilities to water treatment sites as part of its pioneering geothermal work. This new development builds on the success of the Gateshead scheme, the UK’s first large-scale mine water heat network, which began supplying heat to homes and businesses in March 2023. Another nearby privately funded project at Lanchester Wines also uses mine water for heating, though, unlike Seaham Garden Village, the Gateshead projects rely on boreholes drilled up to 150 meters underground to access water from disused mines.

“With over 80 mine water treatment schemes across the UK, there is great potential to create dual-purpose facilities that both protect water supplies and generate renewable heat,” Mr. Bond added. “Whether through treatment schemes or boreholes, the Mining Remediation Authority is committed to finding innovative ways to reduce carbon emissions by repurposing the UK’s coal-mining heritage.”

Gemma Dyson, Pre-Construction Director at Vital Energi, explained, "This development is not just a model for sustainable communities—it also demonstrates how we can repurpose our industrial past to create a cleaner, lower-carbon future. Dawdon Colliery once provided coal to heat homes for 85 years, and now, the same mines will deliver hot water to heat homes for decades to come, transforming them from part of our fossil-fuel past to a crucial component of our net-zero future."

Construction on the energy centre and connections to the Seaham Garden Village homes is expected to take about four months.

Cllr Mark Wilkes, Durham County Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Climate Change, expressed excitement about the project: “We are thrilled to be kicking off the UK’s first large-scale mine water heat project using a mine water treatment scheme right here in County Durham. This innovative project will provide significant environmental benefits by utilizing previously untapped heat to keep homes, schools, and innovation hubs warm, while reducing the need for non-renewable energy sources."

“The affordable homes will also help county residents looking to enter the housing market, and the development of more homes, a school, and innovation hubs in the future will attract new residents, families, and workers."

Paul Fiddaman, Chief Executive of Karbon Homes, added, “We’re excited to partner with Durham County Council and the Mining Remediation Authority to connect our homes to this groundbreaking low-carbon heat system.”