Construction has officially begun on a landmark large-scale mine water heating project, marking a major step forward in harnessing geothermal energy from disused coal mines. By tapping into water already being pumped to the surface, this initiative expands renewable heating solutions across former coalfield areas.

The Energy Centre is being built next to the Mining Remediation Authority’s Dawdon Mine Water Treatment Scheme in County Durham. It will use mine water that is already being treated at the site, now not only protecting a vital drinking water source but also providing heat for a new housing development.

A Sustainable Community at Seaham Garden Village

Seaham Garden Village is a new mixed-use sustainable community located south of Seaham. The development will feature 1,500 homes, a primary school, a village centre, and innovation hubs, with construction set to take place over the next decade.

The district heating network has been led by Durham County Council, with the Mining Remediation Authority spearheading the mine water heating initiative. Several organisations are involved, including Karbon Homes, which is developing 750 affordable homes and has been a pioneer in adopting the mine water heat technology. Vital Energi has been appointed to design, build, and operate the low-carbon system, running the district heating network for the next 40 years.

A government grant from the Heat Networks Investment Project has played a crucial role in enabling the project’s delivery.

Harnessing Mine Water for a Greener Future

Seaham Garden Village will be a thriving, sustainable community on Durham’s heritage coast, contributing to local economic growth. The state-of-the-art Energy Centre will extract geothermal heat from the warm mine water, which remains at a stable underground temperature. A heat pump will then upgrade this heat to domestic heating levels, delivering low-cost, low-carbon warmth to new Karbon Homes.

Richard Bond, Innovation and Services Director at the Mining Remediation Authority, said:

“This scheme is a further milestone in our journey to harness mine water heat to provide sustainable heating solutions across the former coalfields.

There is huge potential to utilise our GB-wide water treatment facilities where warm mine water is already being pumped to the surface, and we’re progressing opportunities in multiple regions. The mine water heat scheme at Dawdon paves the way, demonstrating a further route for mine water to provide low-carbon heat, building on the success of schemes in Gateshead and at Lanchester Wines.”

The Dawdon scheme has been treating mine water since 2009, with the Mining Remediation Authority pioneering research into ‘bolting on’ heat capture technology at existing treatment sites.

This latest development follows the success of the Gateshead scheme, the UK’s first large-scale mine water heating network, which began supplying heat to homes and businesses in March 2023. Another privately funded scheme at Lanchester Wines warehouses has also demonstrated the potential of mine water heating. However, unlike Seaham Garden Village, the Gateshead projects accessed mine water by drilling boreholes up to 150 metres deep.

“With over 80 mine water treatment schemes across the UK, we see great potential to deliver dual-purpose facilities that protect water supplies and generate renewable heat,” Mr. Bond added.

“Whether accessing mine water heat via our treatment schemes or boreholes, the Mining Remediation Authority is proud to offer innovative ways to reduce carbon emissions by repurposing the UK’s coal-mining heritage.”

Transforming the Past into a Net-Zero Future

Gemma Dyson, Pre-Construction Director at Vital Energi, highlighted the significance of the project:

“This solution, and the wider development, is a template for how sustainable communities can be founded. But it’s also a lesson in how we can repurpose our industrial past to create a cleaner, lower-carbon future.

Dawdon Colliery produced the coal that provided heating for 85 years, and now, the same mines will deliver the hot water that will heat homes for decades to come. This project transforms a relic of our fossil-fuelled past into an exciting part of our net-zero future.”

Construction of the Energy Centre and the heat network connection to homes in Seaham Garden Village is expected to take approximately four months.

Cllr Mark Wilkes, Durham County Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Climate Change, added:

“We are delighted to have started work on what will be the UK’s first large-scale mine water heat project that uses a mine water treatment scheme, right here in County Durham.

This innovative project will have significant environmental benefits—making use of currently untapped heat to warm homes, and potentially a school and innovation hubs, while reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources.

The affordable properties will also provide a welcome boost for county residents looking to get on the housing ladder, while the development’s facilities will attract new residents, families, and job seekers.

A lot of planning has gone into this over the years with multiple organisations involved, so it’s really exciting to have all agreements in place and work starting on site.”

Paul Fiddaman, Chief Executive of Karbon Homes, echoed this enthusiasm:

“It’s fantastic to partner with Durham County Council and the Mining Remediation Authority to connect our homes to this innovative low-carbon heat system.”

This project is another milestone in the UK’s efforts to transition to greener energy sources, making use of past industrial infrastructure to build a more sustainable future.