Heat from a former mine: how mine water will heat around 750 homes in Seaham
A mine water heat network has gone live in Seaham, a town in the UK. It will provide heating and hot water to around 750 homes in Seaham Garden Village. The energy centre has completed commissioning, confirming that the network is fully operational. The system uses mine water pumped to the surface at the Dawdon mine water treatment scheme.
How does it work?
Mine water collects in former coal workings, where it is naturally warmed underground. It is pumped to the surface, and a heat exchanger transfers its heat to a separate fluid in the heating system. A heat pump then raises the temperature of this fluid to the level required for heating.
The heated fluid circulates through the network to homes, where it provides space heating and hot water. The two fluids do not mix: the mine water gives up its heat, while the separate fluid in the heat network carries that heat to the homes. After the heat has been extracted, the mine water is treated at the Dawdon site and discharged through the existing system.
One infrastructure asset, two functions
The Dawdon mine water treatment scheme was already helping to protect local drinking water supplies before the heat network went live. It is now also being used as a source of heat for the residential area.
The project estimates that the system will reduce CO₂ emissions by around 2,600 tonnes a year. Over 25 years, it is projected to avoid almost 65,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. For residents, the network is intended to provide a reliable supply of heating and hot water and help reduce exposure to fluctuations in energy prices.
What this means for coalfield communities
The project was delivered by the Mining Remediation Authority, Karbon Homes, Esh Construction, Vital Energi and Durham County Council. It received funding through the UK government’s Heat Networks Investment Project.
The project shows how infrastructure linked to the coal industry can continue to benefit communities today. According to the Mining Remediation Authority, around a quarter of homes and commercial buildings in Great Britain are located above former coal workings. The organisation manages more than 80 mine water treatment schemes, some of which could potentially provide heat to local communities.
For coal communities, projects like this can form part of a just transition. They make it possible to reuse existing infrastructure to develop clean energy and provide heat to local residents. Delivering such projects can also create demand for specialists in the design, construction and maintenance of heat networks.