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Delivering carbon savings in Gateshead
We have worked with Gateshead Energy Company to support their delivery of the largest mine water heat network in Great Britain and Europe in just 3 years. This scheme proves the technology to supply low carbon secure heat and hot water to various building types for both public and private users; delivering an estimated saving of 1,800 tonnes CO2 per annum.
This project demonstrates Mine Water Heat can not only provide low carbon heat to large networks in Great Britain, but that projects can be delivered in reasonable timescales. The Mine Water Heat offers a huge opportunity to deliver clean energy from the coalfields and we are looking for partners to get on board to bring this fantastic opportunity to life. If you want to be part of this innovative story and understand how this could help decarbonise your project contact us to start the conversation.
The Coal Authority recognised that there is incredible potential for the warm water in the former coal-mining infrastructure to be used as a secure, low carbon energy source for heat networks (which are an essential part of Great Britain’s heat decarbonisation strategy). We needed key partners to work with and the project being considered by the council-owned Gateshead Energy Company looked to be the perfect fit.
The Coal Authority supported Gateshead Energy Company and contractors to deliver a mine water heating scheme that feeds into an existing district heating network. The scheme uses warm water from the extensive network of old mine workings up to 150m below the town. Funded by the Heat Network Investment Project (HNIP) and Gateshead Council, the scheme went live on the 29 March 2023.
How does the scheme work?
Heat from mine water contained in workings 150m beneath the ground is used to supply the heat network.
A 6 megawatt (MW) water source heat pump recovers heat and distributes it via a network of heat network pipes over 5 km long. Currently this network supplies heat to a range of building types including; Gateshead College, the Baltic Arts Centre, GB Lubricants, several offices and 350 council owned homes. In the future additions will include 270 privately owned homes, a new conference centre and a hotel development.
How has this project contributed to net zero and energy security?
This project has an estimated saving of 72,000 tonnes of CO2 over 40 years which equates to annual savings of about 1,800 tonnes CO2 per annum.
Our experience over the past few years shows that working with a range of partners to deliver awareness campaigns has joint benefits and has driven interest in mine water heat networks as a credible solution for decarbonisation of heat in coalfield communities. To find out more about how you could become part of this story, please contact us.