A collaborative project
The project was funded by the Heat Network Investment Project (HNIP) and the Gateshead Council and took about three years to develop. Heat is extracted from mine water from 150 meters below the Gateshead town centre via three boreholes that have been drilled into 200-year-old mine workings. These mine workings have now been filled water that is being warmed by geothermal processes.
The water is then then fed into a 6-MW water source heat pump that boosts the temperature of the water before it is distributed over a 5-km long heating network. The network currently supplies heating to the Baltic Arts Centre, Gateshead College, several offices, and 350 households. There are plans to expand the network to cover a new conference centre, a hotel development, and an additional 270 privately owned homes. The project is estimated to contribute to savings of about 1,800 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Interior of the energy centre of the Gateshead mine water heating scheme in the UK (source: YouTube screenshot / The Coal Authority)
A whole host of organisations were involved in the project, from both public and private sectors, bringing together the expertise of key stakeholders, including government bodies, local authorities and energy industry leaders.
Work on the underground mines required for the scheme was supported by the Coal Authority, which owns and manages the disused coal-mining infrastructure on behalf of the UK government.
More potential for mine water heating
The Gateshead Energy Company project demonstrates how similar networks could benefit other coalfield communities across Great Britain. With billions of tonnes of coal extracted from British mines over the past 3 centuries, a wealth of information on mine workings exists. Many of our largest towns and cities grew due to their former coal reserves, leaving a good match between areas of heat demand and areas of disused mines.
The Coal Authority along with key partners, such as the British Geological Survey, have been researching the potential for recovering low-carbon heat from disused coal mining infrastructure for several years. The organisations have built up a wealth of expertise during this time. Coal Authority dedicated specialists used this knowledge to advise and facilitate on the Gateshead project. The organisation is now working with other local authorities and key partners across England, Scotland and Wales to unlock the full potential of our mine heat resource.
“What we have in Gateshead is a legacy from the days of the coal mines, which was dirty energy. Now we are leading the way in generating clean, green energy from those mines,” said Councillor John McElroy, cabinet member for the environment and transport at Gateshead Council. “We are showing what is possible when you invest in this technology.”
“We are proud to have been part of this revolutionary project working closely with Gateshead Council, which has led the way in providing a real working example of mine water heat, paving the way for other local authorities and organisations to create similar schemes,” added Richard Bond, innovation and engagement director at the Coal Authority. “We believe this is a huge opportunity for Britain that can play a key part in meeting ambitious emissions reduction targets, and it’s encouraging to know that these communities, which had such a big role in our industrial past, will be an important part of a greener future.”
