£6.5m awarded for UK’s first large scale mine-water energy project

A multi-million-pound initiative to catapult Caerau, near Maesteg, to the cutting edge of the UK’s green energy revolution by using water that has filled underground mine workings as a geothermal source of energy has been awarded £6.5m EU funds, Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, announced today.

As the underground water in the former Caerau colliery has been naturally heated by the earth, Bridgend County Borough Council is investigating how the heat could be extracted using heat pump technology and a network of pipes to warm around 150 nearby homes.

It will be the first ever large scale mine-water energy scheme to be created in the UK.

Currently global leaders at using this sort of technology are Holland, where the world’s first mine-water power station was opened in 2008 in the town of Heerlen – at the heart of a Dutch coal-mining area that closed its last mine in the 1970s.

Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, said: “Our ambition is for our nation to be a world leader in pioneering low carbon energy. This is a cutting edge model of generating a clean source of renewable energy drawing on the legacy of our coal mining heritage. It will not only attract further investment to the area, but also addresses fuel poverty by cutting energy bills with the potential to be rolled out to Wales and beyond.

“The scheme will also create jobs both within the initial construction period and the ongoing supply chain as well as offering training and educational opportunities. This is another of many examples of the positive impact EU Funds are having on our region.”

Test drilling into the mine workings under the Old Brewers site in Caerau during the autumn found that the void is full of water at a depth of 230m, and the British Geological Survey have since been testing the temperature, chemistry and volume of water that is available.

Their feasibility study won’t be completed until the end of February, but the early indications are very encouraging as the water has an average temperature of around 20.6 degrees celsius – warm enough for the scheme to be a success.

The volume of water and its temperature makes the scheme possible and, now that we have been awarded the £6.5m EU Funds, the next phase is to work through the full scope of the scheme and put everything in place to deliver a trailblazing project for the Llynfi Valley. It will also act as a catalyst for other energy project investments, possibly through the City Deal and other external funding.

Councillor Richard Young, Cabinet Member for Communities

While the initial heat network will involve 150 properties as well as the nearby school and church, there is potential for the scheme to eventually warm up to a thousand local homes.

An exhibition is planned for spring 2018 when findings from the feasibility study will be shared with Caerau residents and anyone else who is interested in the project. Construction work will begin in 2020 with the first homes being connected to the system in winter 2021.

The scheme is a demonstrator project for the UK Government led Smart System and Heat Programme. The total project cost is estimated at approximately £9.4m, and match funding totalling £2.2m has already been secured through financial contributions and staff resources from UK Government, Welsh Government, Energy Systems Catapult and Bridgend County Borough Council. Discussions are ongoing regarding the additional £700k that is required, with the council targeting other potential sources of grant funding.

The Caerau Mine-water Heat Project has a large number of stakeholders including the Welsh Government, UK Government, Wales European Funding Office, Cardiff University, BGS, Kensa, Egnida, SPECIFIC, Carreg Las, Energy Systems Catapult, Natural Resources Wales and The Coal Authority.

Professor Hywel Thomas, Cardiff University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Engagement, said: “This is proving to be a fascinating research project that is deepening our understanding of subsurface geometry and the hydraulics of mine workings. This innovative, low carbon source of heat energy could help Bridgend County Borough Council meet government targets of reducing UK carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.”

Councillor Richard Young added: “We are extremely keen to engage with the public throughout this project, so an exhibition is planned for spring 2018 when findings from the investigations will be shared with Caerau residents and anyone else who is interested in the project. It is anticipated that the construction work will start in 2020. Full details about the exhibition will be publicised soon.”

For further information, please contact Ceri Williams or Michael Jenkins in Bridgend County Borough Council’s Sustainable Development Team on 01656 643133.