Clean Energy from The Coalfields – Harnessing the Potential of the UK’s Abandoned Coal Mines

Jul

9:00am

Clean Energy from The Coalfields – Harnessing the Potential of the UK’s Abandoned Coal Mines

By Environment Analyst

Established in 1994, the Coal Authority has been working to make a better future for people and the environment in mining areas for more than 25 years and retains responsibility for coal mines. The UK’s intensive deep coal mining industry spanned a period of more than 300 years, before finally ending in 2015.  This has resulted in extensive abandoned mine workings, which can be found under a quarter of UK homes and businesses.
The Coal Authority is now viewing this abandoned mine infrastructure - which was formerly seen as a liability - as an asset of strategic national importance.
This webinar explores the many initiatives being driven by the Coal Authority to repurpose the UK’s abandoned mine infrastructure, and details how organisations can be involved in the exciting opportunities these projects present.
The webinar, presented by Jeremy Crooks, Head of Innovation at the Coal Authority, will cover:
Large scale abstraction of geothermal energy from mine water and the benefits to land development
Large scale storage of energy inter-seasonally in mine workings, and how this could be a major contributor to meeting UK sustainability targets
The use of ferric oxyhydroxide in mine water - previously seen as a £1m per annum waste issue, and now a solution to challenging land remediation issues whilst reducing ferric imports from overseas
Potential to develop a large-scale horticulture industry around mine energy, offsetting £50billion per annum in food imports
Water in mines as a means to tackle the UK’s future water scarcity issues – it is predicted that the UK will have an insufficient water supply by 2034
Repurposing abandoned mine shafts to generate electricity and as thermal stores
How the repurposing of mines can build UK resilience, create employment, and contribute to improving the wellbeing of the 25% of UK population that lives and works on the coalfields
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Environment Analyst