TownRock Energy is delighted to be working with the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (WEMCA) to explore the potential for utilising abandoned mine workings in the area for heating and cooling.
The WEMCA has declared a climate emergency, with ambitions to be net zero carbon by 2030. Their accompanying Action Plan includes a net zero energy priority of working to decarbonise the energy system and increase local renewable energy generation.
Though now largely out of sight, the counties of South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, and Bristol have a long and extensive history of coal mining, spanning from as early as the 13th century up until the 1960s. When operational, mines are pumped continuously to remove water, and as a result, flood when mines close and pumping stops. The water in these re-flooded mine workings is generally warmer than the ambient air or the ground all year round and, therefore, can provide an efficient and reliable source of geothermal energy for heating, cooling, or thermal storage.
For these reasons, this project is investigating the possibility of mine water schemes contributing to decarbonising the heat and/ or coolth demand of the local area. When combined with heat pumps and heat networks, such as those being progressed via Bristol City Leap, former mines present a valuable resource which has the potential to be exploited across the region. Heat from mines is already being utilised by other local authorities, for example in Gateshead as well as by private industry in the UK.
David Townsend, TownRock Energy CEO, said of this project “TownRock Energy is delighted to be supporting WEMCA to meet its ambitious net zero targets. Mine workings have such historic importance in the area, and this project provides a great opportunity to repurpose these abandoned mines for heating and cooling, for the benefit of the community”
The desktop study being undertaken by TownRock Energy will evaluate and compare the mine resource potential of five separate locations across the WEMCA, providing a detailed understanding of possible drilling targets and costings for boreholes. The study results will determine a single, feasible location to be identified and support the WEMCA in the next steps of the process – potentially constructing boreholes to derisk a future mine water geothermal scheme at that location.
Further Information:
West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (WEMCA)
The WEMCA was formed in 2017, to champion the region and drive clean and inclusive economic growth. The WEMCA is made up of three of the local authorities in the region – Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
TownRock Energy Ltd
TownRock Energy is an award-winning geothermal consultancy based in Edinburgh, and is a leading specialist in all aspects of the UK’s geothermal resources. We specialise in the valuation, development and operation of net-zero heat projects using flooded coal mines, hot sedimentary aquifers, granites (Hot Dry Rocks), open and closed-loop ground-source heat pumps, district heating integration and thermal energy storage.