Energy bills: Homes could be heated by floodwater from disused mines

Image source, Getty Images

As a green energy source, Wales' coal mines could be a good fit.

The best places to pump naturally heated water from underground will be investigated.

The Welsh government is spending a lot of money on a project to cut energy bills.

The mines flooded when the pumps were turned off.

The water could be used to help Wales become carbon neutral by the year 2050.

Water from the old mines will be put through a heat exchanger before it is amplified by a heat pump.

He said that the heat is pumped around a heat network to homes, businesses and all parts of the local community.

The Coal Authority will spend money on feasibility studies to find out where the heat can be taken from the water in the old mines.

The ultimate end game will be that consumers won't be paying any more than they are for their heating and hopefully they will eventually be paying less.

The water bore holes had to be drilled. They are hidden underneath the ground with pipes for the water and heat network.

Most of the homes in Wales are heated by gas. New houses will not be connected to the gas mains by the year 25.

Julie James said it was exciting that communities could be metres from a technology ready alternative to traditional heating methods.

The biggest mine water heat scheme in the UK is in Gateshead.

Half of the required heat will be provided to buildings on the network.

There have been obstacles in Wales.

Plans for a mine water scheme in Caerau were stopped in recent months despite a feasibility study concluding it was doable.

The scheme would have been too expensive, according to Bridgend council.

The council and its partners decided to look at alternative options and submit a re-profiled programme to the Wales European Funding Office.

Water from a thermal spring is used to heat the primary school and pavilion in Taff's Well.

The water is pumped from the springs to the exchanger.

The pavilion has a heat pump. There are underground pipes that carry heat to the school.

"This technology could be used in the coal mines of south Wales, which are just below our feet, and potentially bring cheaper energy to our communities and energy that lasts for the long term as well," said Christina Leyshon, Rhondda Cynon Taf council's climate change cabinet

We need to look to the future with these projects. Reducing our carbon footprint is the main thing.

Making homes more energy efficient is important in dealing with climate change, according to Ms James.

"We need to think innovatively and ensure we meet out renewable energy needs of the future, so I'm looking forward to hearing what the Coal Authority discovers as part of their work."