Wales has a long and rich history of coal mining, but the industry has left behind a legacy of environmental and social problems.
Now, a new project aims to turn this legacy into an opportunity for a greener and more prosperous future.
Mining Water as a Renewable Heat Source
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The project, funded by the Welsh Government, will explore whether water from disused mines has the potential to play a vital role in supplying Wales' energy needs for years to come.
The water, which is heated by geological processes, could be used to heat homes, businesses and industry across Wales.
The project will map the sites of former mines and assess their suitability for mine water heating.
It will also carry out feasibility studies on the most promising locations and identify the technical, economic and social challenges and benefits of using this low-carbon, sustainable heat source.
Mine water heating could compete with gas prices and deliver carbon savings of up to 75% compared to gas heating.
It could also create jobs and manufacturing opportunities and revive communities that were once dependent on coal mining.
The Climate Change Minister of Wales expressed her interest in the project and said that improving the energy efficiency of homes was essential for tackling the climate emergency and building a stronger, greener and fairer Wales.
She added that she was looking forward to hearing what the Coal Authority discovered as part of their work.
The Coal Authority is a non-departmental public body that manages the effects of past coal mining in Britain.
It has been involved in several mine water heating projects in England and Scotland, such as the Dawdon mine water scheme in County Durham and the Clyde Gateway scheme in Glasgow.
Wales' mines were crucial in firing up the industrial revolution, but once abandoned, the pumps that kept them dry were often switched off and the mines filled with water.
Wales has one of the longest legacy footprints of any country in the world because of the industrialisation that came with the south Wales coalfield.
The project will also explore the historical and cultural aspects of Wales' coal mining heritage and how it can be preserved and celebrated.
The project will involve local communities, stakeholders and experts in the fields of energy, engineering, geology, history and sociology.
A climate change expert and adviser to the project commented on Wales' long history of releasing carbon and said that Wales had one of the longest legacy footprints of any country in the world because of the industrialization that came with the South Wales coalfield. He said that Wales had a duty to do something about that.
Coal mining in Wales began in the medieval period, with small shafts or 'adits'. By the 15th century, mines existed across Wales, mostly for use in small-scale industry.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, an export industry developed, mostly around Swansea, Pembrokeshire and Flintshire.
Wales became famous for its coal mining in the 19th and 20th centuries, when it supplied fuel for the iron, steel, shipbuilding and railway industries.
By 1913, Barry had become the largest coal exporting port in the world, with Cardiff as second.
Wales was also known for producing high-quality steam-coal, which was in demand for powering steamships and locomotives
However, the coal industry declined in the second half of the 20th century, due to competition from cheaper foreign coal, oil and gas, as well as environmental and health concerns.
Many mines closed, leaving behind social and economic problems, as well as environmental issues such as water pollution, subsidence and acid mine drainage4
The project is expected to run until March 2024 and will produce a report with recommendations for the Welsh Government and other partners on how to develop and implement mine water heating in Wales.
