Research
GEMS research and partners
Mine water geothermal energy is an emerging low-carbon energy source. It is being developed in the North East of England, where the large number of former coal mines offers an excellent potential. But a significant number of challenges still exist, e.g. technical (how to best extract this heat, or use mines as heat storage mechanism?), social (are communities or individuals ready to adopt this new way to warm their homes?), economic (is mine water heating affordable for all, and will it attract funders to provide the capital costs?), and regulatory (what policies are in place, how to apply for a new mine water scheme, who owns the heat underground?). Further research is needed to answer these questions, and a team in Durham and the British Geological Survey has been addressing these questions in a collaborative project called “Geothermal Energy from Mines and Solar-Geothermal (GEMS).
GEMS research is subdivided into three Work Packages (WPs):
- on the long-term sustainability of mine geothermal heat extraction
- on Solar-geothermal heat storage
- on the social, economic, and policy aspects of mine water geothermal energy.
The aims of each of these WPs and the overall GEMS project objectives are elaborated below.
The research team is further strengthened by the following national and international project partners that will form the Advisory Board of the project, and that bring a wealth of complementary expertise and data to the project.
The Coal Authority (supporting the project with mine data and detailed knowledge of the mines and regulatory procedures).,
Mijnwater BV in Heerlen, the Netherlands, which executes the most successful mine geothermal district heating project in the world.
Durham County Council, which executes a number of mine geothermal projects, and forms an essential bridge between academia, industry and local communities.
Clyde Gateway, Scotland’s biggest regeneration programme supporting the UKGEOS site.
Glacier Energy, as key industrial provider providing valuable insight and support on sorption energy technical and logistical aspects.
Lanchester Wines, a pioneer in MWGH in County Durham, providing essential operational data to calibrate numerical models, and technical/logistical experience.
Geoenergy Durham, presently operating a £7M MWGH project from the Hebburn colliery to provide district heating to South Tyneside.
Town Rock Energy is an award-winning geothermal energy company based in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is a leading specialist in all aspects of the UK’s geothermal resources.
NEIMME, The Mining Institute, is dedicated to the professions of mining engineering, mechanical engineering, mining electrical engineering and related professions
Work Packages
Work Package 1
Led by Professor Jeroen Van Hunen and will assess Long-term sustainability of mine water heat extraction : Numerical modelling of mine water flow and heat exchange between the subsurface and mine water will be used to assess whether and under which conditions a mine system can provide long-term heat supply.
Model reliability depends on the accuracy of local mine data, appropriate modelling software, and model calibration with experimental data. This research will apply those models to prospective production sites.
Work Package 2
Led by Dr Zhiwei Ma will assess Solar-geothermal heat storage : This research deals with the technology and logistical measures to ensure MWGH projects meet heating demands.
It will develop innovative solar-geothermal dual storage systems based on a sorption heat pump cycle that utilises 15-20°C mine water to deliver hot water that meets consumer demands.
Work Package 3
Led by Professor Simone Abram will assess: WP3. Political economy and Community to Policy Value of MWGH This research addresses the governance, investment and narratives associated with MWGH, how it can contribute to a ‘just’ energy transition31 through studying its socio-economic value and the impact of government policies. Given the divergent legal and governance frameworks across the UK, WP3 focuses on England and Wales.
Findings will be tested against a detailed study on County Durham as a framework for analysis of regulation, financial structures and public understanding of MWGH, with a comparative case study area in the South Wales former coalfields, where MWGH is being developed.
Project objectives
The main project aim is to assess and address the technical, social and financial challenges and risks of exploiting disused, flooded coal mines as a source for long-term sustainable heat extraction and storage for homes and businesses in the UK.
Within this overarching aim, we have a number of specific objectives. In particular, we will:
- Assess the geothermal resource and its sustainability using innovative, state-of-the-art simulations, calibrated with mine records, monitoring data, field experiments, and citizen knowledge.
- Develop novel heat storage solutions by integrating sorption storage with underground storage to meet fluctuating consumer heat demand and boost long-term performance of MWGH extraction.
- Seek to understand the socio-economic impacts of MWGH from community to policy level, using case study examples.
- Address all these interconnected aspects of MWGH with an integrated, interdisciplinary approach.
