Energy

'New' source of renewable energy discovered

Water found in derelict UK coal mines has been identified as a 'new' source of renewable energy, following a two year study conducted by Nottingham Trent University, in conjunction with energy firm Alkane Energy.

New source of renewable energy discovered
Coalmine water could be used as a new source of heat energy.

The research found that the naturally lukewarm thermal energy in groundwater mines can be 'condensed' and used to heat, or cool, buildings across the UK.

The technology

The technology works via a ground source heat pump system, which takes water from the abandoned mineshaft and pumps it to the surface. From there, latent thermal energy is extracted with the use of a heat exchanger.

The pump then condenses this energy and circulates it in a separate 'central heating-type system', thus heating the water to a ‘significantly higher temperature’ than originally.

The cooler groundwater is then restored back to the mine where it returns to a lukewarm temperature due to the ground heat.

The research also found that when solar or wind energy could not sufficiently power the ground source heat pump, the new technology could still be 'four times more efficient when running on mains electricity than a modern gas boiler with 90 per cent efficiency rating'.

Visions of a sustainable future

Professor Amin Al-Habaibeh (pictured right) of the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment at Nottingham Trent University led the study. He said: “In a way we may never have previously envisaged, coal mines could once again be used to provide warmth to thousands of homes across the UK.

New source of renewable energy discovered

“But the key difference between yesteryear and tomorrow is that we now have the ability to harness their energy potential in a completely sustainable way.”

The new technology was also tested at the former Markham Colliery based in North East Derbyshire, where the 'abstracted heat' was used as a source of energy at a site owned by Alkane Energy.

Keith Parker, Project Director at Alkane Energy, said: “Alkane has traditionally utilised gas contained in disused coal mines to power its core electricity generation business. The utilisation of heat from mine water gives rise to a further opportunity to make use of the mines to provide green, sustainable energy to homes and businesses in the UK.”

The project, funded by Innovate UK, and its research findings, were formally presented at the Energy Conference in Abu Dhabi that took place during 28 and 31 March.

Find out more about the coal mine project.

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