Coal mine water powers 750 homes with green heat

Manager for mine energy at the UK Coal Authority industry body, Charlotte Adams looks at the water drawn from the former pit at the Dawdon Mine water treatment scheme in Seaham

Another former coal mine is being used to heat homes using underground water and heat pumps (Image credit: Getty Images)

For decades, abandoned coal mines have been seen as relics of Britain’s industrial past, but a new project in Seaham is proving they could play a key role in the future of home heating.

By harnessing warm water trapped underground, 750 homes will be supplied with a renewable, low-carbon heat source, offering an alternative to gas boilers.

This initiative is part of a broader push to explore mine water as a potential energy source, with similar projects already being trialed across the UK.

Using disused mines to heat homes

A new project in Seaham, County Durham, is using warm water from abandoned coal mines to heat 750 homes.

The project, led by Durham County Council in partnership with Karbon Homes and Esh Group, is part of a broader effort to explore mine water as an energy source.

The Seaham Energy Centre, located next to the Dawdon mine water treatment scheme, will extract water from deep underground, where it has been naturally heated by the Earth.

How is coal mine water used to heat homes

Underground water in old coal mines naturally maintains a stable temperature.

At the Seaham Energy Centre, this water is extracted and passed through heat pumps, which raise the temperature to a level suitable for heating homes. The system is designed to reduce carbon emissions while keeping heating costs down.

Richard Bond, Innovation and Services Director at the Mining Remediation Authority, said: “This scheme is a significant step in using mine water heat as a practical alternative to fossil fuels. There is scope for similar projects across other former coalfield regions.”

Potential for expansion

An abandoned, flooded mine that is slightly lit — *Previous studies have shown that up to 6 million British homes could benefit from disused coal mines* (Image credit: Getty Images)

The Seaham project is part of a wider effort to explore mine water heating as a long-term energy solution.

There are over 80 mine water treatment schemes across the UK, with an estimated 6 million homes being able to benefit from disused coal mines as a heating source.

Gateshead has already implemented a mine water heat network, and further expansion could see more homes, schools, and businesses benefit from this technology.

Councillor Mark Wilkes of Durham County Council said: “This is the first large-scale mine water heat project using a treatment scheme, and it could help shape the future of low-carbon heating in the UK.”

News Editor Joseph has previously written for Today’s Media and Chambers & Partners, focusing on news for conveyancers and industry professionals. Joseph has just started his own self build project, building his own home on his family’s farm with planning permission for a timber frame, three-bedroom house in a one-acre field. The foundation work has already begun and he hopes to have the home built in the next year. Prior to this he renovated his family's home as well as doing several DIY projects, including installing a shower, building sheds, and livestock fences and shelters for the farm’s animals. Outside of homebuilding, Joseph loves rugby and has written for Rugby World, the world’s largest rugby magazine.