Transformational Wearmouth Colliery plans heat up

Plans to transform the former Wearmouth Colliery into the UK's largest mine water heat network have taken a major step forward.

Leading engineering and environmental professional services consultancy WSP has submitted a planning application on behalf of Sunderland City Council to start work on an exploratory pilot to see if the former mineworks could be used to generate heat for hundreds of homes and businesses in the surrounding area.

If approved by the council's planning committee in April, the pilot will 'test the water' to see if the abandoned mine can be accessed by undertaking borehole drilling and pumping tests.

The location of the coal measures, and therefore the boreholes, has already been informed by work undertaken on behalf of Sunderland City Council by the Coal Authority. The outcome of this next stage would allow city chiefs to better understand how much heat could be generated and the associated costs of extracting it.

If the exercise confirms viability, Sunderland could become home to the UK's largest geothermal mine water source district heat network, which would be a major milestone in achieving the council's ambition to be a carbon neutral local authority by 2030 and the city's target of being carbon neutral by 2040. 

It is also estimated that the scheme could save upwards of 4,100t of CO2e per annum, representing a 70per cent carbon saving against mains gas, and that it will create jobs and opportunities for the city.

"If planning is granted and the viability studies bear fruit, then this could be a transformational project for the city," said Cllr Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council.

"As a city, we have made a clear commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2040 and projects such as this, which will significantly slash emissions, will be key to helping us achieve our goals."

The test site comprises the former Fan Zone area adjacent to the Stadium of Light which has not been used by the club since 2019.

It also includes a small section of hardstanding ground surrounding the stadium, however the proposals submitted by WSP have assured planners that the relevant site hoardings and safety measures will be implemented to ensure minimal disruption to the club and its match-goers.

Should the project receive the green light for the test site, they will have a drilling window between July 2023 and April 2024 to conduct their studies.

Cllr Miller added: "We have worked with WSP and the football club to ensure that the works cause as little disruption as possible to the match day experience and that the fall outside of the concerts period to ensure the safest possible environment to conduct the tests.

"We know that the city has assets that we can explore to deliver more sustainable energy, and if this proves a success, then there's no reason why we can't explore similar concepts at former mineworks across the city."

Dominic Bowers, Project Director at WSP, said: "With numerous potential sources of low carbon heat and major heat consumers within a relatively compact area, Sunderland is an excellent candidate for a low carbon heat network. 

"The drilling of pilot boreholes to further explore the potential of heat recovery from flooded mine workings beneath the city represents a significant milestone for all involved. WSP looks forward to continuing its work with Sunderland City Council on this exciting project."

Gareth Farr, head of heat and by-product innovation at the Coal Authority said: "We are excited to hear that this innovative project is moving forward. Local authorities like Sunderland City Council are leading the way by considering the warm mine water within mines beneath towns and cities to provide low carbon space heating as part of their ambitious heat network project.

"Heat stored within mines provides a low-carbon, locally sourced heat opportunity which has great potential for many coalfield communities across Britain. We are delighted to have supported Sunderland during the early stages of this exemplar project.

"Former mining areas played a key role in our industrial and economic growth, and although the coal has long since been mined, traded and used, the infrastructure it created provides new opportunities and local benefits including low-carbon, secure heat and green jobs created with the uptake of this new resource."