The Living Lab is central to our role in driving sustainable growth across former coalfields, aligning with the UK Government’s ambition to become a green energy superpower. Through collaboration with partners like Gateshead Council, the Environment Agency, Universities, and the British Geological Survey, we’re generating the real-world data needed to break down barriers for future schemes.
We are also sharing data with the private sector, including Lanchester Wines, installers of the first megawatt scale mine water heat scheme in Great Britain that provides heat to warehouses at their premises in the same mining block as the Living Lab.
The Lab will help developers, policymakers, and local authorities make informed decisions, boosting confidence in the scalability of mine water heat. With open-access insights and shared learning, this work is paving the way for new opportunities and proving that repurposing our industrial past can fuel a cleaner, fairer future.
It’s the kind of innovation that not only fits the government’s growth and decarbonisation agenda but also speaks to the heart of what we do: transforming legacy infrastructure into environmental assets that deliver for people and place.
How will we know we are succeeding?
| We will: |
|---|
| Influence and enable 3 more large operational mine water heat schemes across Great Britain and encourage smaller schemes and new technologies |
| Increase our service delivery to partners by 30% from our 2024-25 baseline of £5.3 million/year |
| Reuse or recycle the iron ochre and iron solids generated from our mine water treatment schemes to ensure that less than 3% goes to landfill |
| Deliver the commitments in our mine water heat and by-product opportunity frameworks |
| Evolve our services and partnerships, in support of government policy, to continue to provide confidence to those involved with buying and selling homes, land and property in coalfield areas |