Report overview

Midlands Net Zero Hub worked with the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub and MCS to inform stakeholders on how to harness mine water for heat projects.

This white paper sets out the case for scaling up mine energy – the use of geothermally warmed water in abandoned coal mines – as a major low‑carbon heat source for the UK.

Former coalfields contain extensive warm mine water capable of providing enough clean heat to supply all homes and businesses located on these sites, while supporting the decarbonisation of heat and advancing the UK’s Net Zero goals.

The paper also highlights the wider strategic value of mine energy, including job creation and economic regeneration in coalfield communities, and identifies key barriers, such as investment and technical challenges.

What did the study look into?

Commissioned to understand the scale, feasibility, and barriers to mine energy deployment, the study reviewed the national resource, assessed economic and technical viability, and identified the policy, regulatory, and commercial frameworks needed to accelerate large‑scale adoption. It also explored how mine energy could deliver heat decarbonisation, economic regeneration and green job creation, while outlining the challenges preventing the UK from realising this opportunity. In particular, it looked at:

• Scale and nature of the resource: Assessment of mine water as a heat source, including its availability across coalfields and its potential to deliver large‑scale, low‑carbon heat (estimated 2.2 GWh of heat, enough for all homes and businesses on coalfields).
• Current pipeline and progress: Review of 42 mine‑energy schemes on the Coal Authority’s books and their projected economic impact – including thousands of direct and supply‑chain jobs.
• Benefits and strategic value: Examination of how mine energy supports heat decarbonisation, levels up former mining communities, drives local economic regeneration, and offers first‑mover advantage for the UK.
• Barriers and constraints: Identification of commercial challenges (especially competition with low gas prices), investor and community perception issues, risk of non‑viable drilling outcomes, and technical uncertainties such as heat depletion.
• Policy, regulatory, and market needs: Consideration of actions required from government, regulators, and industry to unlock deployment at scale, including improved financial models and supportive planning and energy pricing frameworks.

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