Mine water as a Renewable Energy Resource - Promoscene

Minewater as a Renewable Energy Resource
At first the Coal Board was welcomed by miners, but this
changed rapidly when the economy changed during the
late 1950s and the 1960s. Small pits were shut first and
closures in Midlothian had cost 5000 jobs. Through the
1970s Bilston Glen and Monktonhall kept output high, but
the closures continued until, by the time of the last great
national strike in 1984, they were all that was left.
Monktonhall burst briefly into life again in 1992 and
survived for another five years.
The remains of the former pit of Monktonhall are situated
beneath the centre of the new development plan –
Shawfair. In considering the mine water concept, the vision
was that Monktonhall could symbolise the transformation
of Scotland’s ‘black diamonds’ into a sustainable new
energy source for the Twenty-first Century.
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This disused mine is now flooded, and the water
temperature varies from 13ºC-35ºC. The flooding is a
hazard, and without careful management, the mine
water could cause subsidence, flooding and damage to
properties. Using the mine water to heat buildings would
help to avoid these problems, but it could have had other
benefits.
Over the next 15 years, some 4400 homes and 30
hectares of commercial development will be constructed
at Shawfair. This development involves a wide range of
organisations, including the local authority (Midlothian
Council), other public agencies, private developers and the
local communities.