Flooded UK coalmines could provide low-carbon cheap heat for generations'

"MWGH systems produce minimal greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional gas boilers. The technology has already been proved. Gateshead Energy Company operates a 6MW MWGH system, supplying about 40% of the city's district heating network. Lanchester Wines in Gateshead is the first UK business to implement MWGH, heating 30,000 sq metres of warehouse space. These projects demonstrate that MWGH can operate at scale."

"With the right support in place, MWGH could be built out at scale within five years. It's not technologically complex, relatively speaking, but it takes some governance and social organisation. She points to Denmark, where publicly backed, non-profit heat networks have already shown how stable investment and community ownership can deliver reliable, low-carbon heat: We have a working model right next door that we can learn from, she said."

Mine water geothermal heat (MWGH) uses water in flooded coalmines warmed by natural processes to supply low-carbon heat via heat exchangers and pumps into district heating networks. About a quarter of UK homes sit above flooded workings where MWGH could provide low-cost heat. MWGH could cut UK emissions by an estimated 10-20% and produces minimal greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional gas boilers. Operational projects include a 6MW system in Gateshead supplying about 40% of the city's district heating and a MWGH system heating 30,000 sq metres of warehouse space. MWGH can be scaled within five years with governance, community ownership models, and investment, also creating specialist jobs in former coalfield areas.

Read at www.theguardian.com