How mine water could warm up the UK's forgotten coal towns

clock • 5 min read
An old coal pit head looms about homes in South Wales | Credit: iStock
Image:

An old coal pit head looms about homes in South Wales | Credit: iStock

Funding gaps, regulatory red tape and a shortage of skilled workers are stalling the UK's mine-water heating projects, according to the University of Manchester's Jingyi Li, Alejandro Gallego Schmid and Cathy Hollis

The Ukraine war sent shockwaves through global energy markets, driving up prices and leaving households across the UK struggling with soaring energy bills. But beneath the ground, in disused coal mines,...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Energy

Energy price cap: Household gas bills to rise as renewables curb electricity price hike

Energy price cap: Household gas bills to rise as renewables curb electricity price hike

Ofgem confirms average gas bills are set to rise higher than electricity bills under the new price cap, as domestic renewables capacity continues to reduce reliance on expensive fossil fuels

Michael Holder
clock 27 May 2026 • 7 min read
Is levy rebalancing the solution to today's soaring electricity bills?

Is levy rebalancing the solution to today's soaring electricity bills?

As the UK faces its second major energy price shock in four years, bold and systemic reform is more urgent than ever in order to close the 'spark gap', writes Talan UK & Ireland's Gemma Drake

Gemma Drake, Talan UK & Ireland
clock 27 May 2026 • 4 min read
How geothermal energy could help the UK through a future energy crisis

How geothermal energy could help the UK through a future energy crisis

Geothermal energy holds huge potential in the UK, but sector needs government strategic policy and targeted financial backing to scale, writes the REA's Neil McLoughlin

Neil McLoughlin, REA
clock 26 May 2026 • 6 min read