A key milestone has been reached in one of the UK’s first large-scale mine water heating projects, which is set to power 750 affordable homes in County Durham.
Karbon Homes is confirmed as the first user of the new ultra-low carbon district heat network, which will heat the affordable homes it is building on the new Seaham Garden Village development.
The project is being led by Durham County Council, which has teamed up with the Mining Remediation Authority to harness mine water treated at the Dawdon Mine Water Treatment Scheme in Seaham.
Paul Fiddaman, Chief Executive of Karbon Homes, said: “Our involvement in the delivery of Seaham Garden Village shows our commitment to investing in the area, working with our construction partner Esh Group to build new affordable homes that help meet local housing need. With further commitments to ensuring the homes we build are of the highest quality and energy efficiency, it’s fantastic to partner with Durham County Council and the Mining Remediation Authority to connect our homes to this innovative low carbon heat system, one of the first of its kind in the country. Paired with boasting a range of energy efficiency technologies, like solar PV panels, the new homes we’re delivering at Seaham Garden Village will be well on the way to net zero.”
The project has received £4.3m from the government’s Heat Networks Investment Project; including £3.23m towards construction. The council has appointed Vital Energi to design, build and operate the network.
Water is extracted from the former coal workings to protect the groundwater aquifer which provides drinking water to local households. This water is extracted at 19-20 degrees throughout the year, is treated to remove heavy metals and is then discharged out to sea. The heat currently dissipates into the atmosphere.
However, under the new project, the heat from the extracted water will instead feed into the ultra-low carbon district heat network. A new energy centre will increase the water temperature through a heat exchange and the water will then be provided to the new homes through a new pipe network.
Richard Bond, Innovation and Services Director at the Mining Remediation Authority, said: “This scheme is a further milestone in our journey to harness mine water heat to provide sustainable heating solutions across the former coalfields. It opens up possibilities to use our treatment facilities across the UK, where warm water is already being pumped to the surface. With over 80 mine water treatment schemes across the UK, we see great potential to deliver dual-purpose facilities that protect water supplies and generate renewable heat. Whether accessing mine water heat via our treatment schemes or boreholes the Mining Remediation Authority are proud to offer innovative ways to reduce carbon emissions by repurposing the amazing UK coal-mining heritage.”
Granted garden village status by the government in 2019, Seaham Garden Village will be built over the next ten years. It will comprise 1,500 homes, 750 of which are being developed for affordable tenures by Karbon, as well as a new village centre, primary school and innovation hubs.
