By leveraging the Dawdon mine water treatment scheme, the project taps into naturally heated water from abandoned mines. The geothermal energy will be processed through a heat pump system at the Seaham Energy Centre, making it one of the UK’s most advanced mine water district heating networks. The project has received funding from the UK government’s Heat Networks Investment Project, ensuring long-term sustainability.
Seaham Garden Village is a mixed-use development featuring 1,500 homes, a new primary school, a village center, and innovation hubs. Of these, 750 homes will benefit from the mine water heating system, with the affordable housing sector being led by Karbon Homes in partnership with Esh Group.
“This scheme is a further milestone in our journey to harness mine water heat to provide sustainable heating solutions across the former coalfields,” said Richard Bond, Innovation and Services Director at the Mining Remediation Authority. “We see great potential in our 80-plus mine water treatment facilities across the UK to protect water supplies and generate renewable heat.”
The Seaham project builds on previous UK mine water heating successes, including the Gateshead mine water heat network and Lanchester Wines' privately funded system. Unlike Gateshead, where boreholes were drilled up to 150 meters underground, Seaham’s approach capitalizes on existing water treatment infrastructure.
“We are delighted to have started work on the UK’s first large-scale mine water heat project utilizing a mine water treatment scheme,” said Councillor Mark Wilkes, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Climate Change at Durham County Council. “This innovative project will have significant environmental benefits—providing low-carbon heat while reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources.”
The potential of mine water as a renewable energy source has been widely researched. A 2023 study by the UK Coal Authority estimated that disused coal mines contain enough geothermal energy to meet the heating demand of over 6 million UK homes. Additionally, a 2024 report by Durham University highlighted the stability and reliability of mine water temperature, making it an ideal alternative to fossil-fuel-based heating.
According to Paul Fiddaman, Chief Executive at Karbon Homes, “Pairing the mine water heating system with additional energy efficiency measures, such as solar PV panels, ensures that these homes are well on their way to net zero.”
