Think GeoEnergy
Summary
The Ministry of Science, Innovation and University of Asturias, Spain has just announced that it will draw up “a map of wells, galleries and disused mining operations that can house unique projects to contribute to the reconstruction of Asturias”. To do this, it will convene in September a workshop on the use of old mining infrastructures and will propose, as a pilot experience, the installation of greenhouses for underground cultivation.
The Asturian Government will invite all the companies linked to the mining sector and “other agents involved to the workshop. “The objective is to take advantage of disused galleries and facilities to develop “projects aligned with the new European industrial strategy and its double transformation: ecological and digital”.
The condition established by the regional Executive is “that the projects be multidisciplinary, generate employment and added value, and that, in addition, they be sustainable and economically viable.” The proposal – informs the Government – follows the line announced in October last year, in the first appearance at the General Meeting, where the head of Science, Innovation and the University of Asturias, Borja Sánchez, advanced the desire of the Principality to convert old farms mining companies in laboratories and innovation poles.
Among the initiatives that are already on the table, the Executive highlights “the geothermal project that Hunosa is leading in the Barredo * well or the medicine warehouse for which the municipality of Aller is applying with the Santiago well.” In addition, the council will propose to the work table “initiatives that go a little further: the general idea is to create scientific-technological ecoparks and R + D + i centers that include not only the use of underground galleries, but also equipment for investigation”.
One of the proposals to be studied – reports the Asturian Government – is linked to the agri-food sector and would contemplate “the installation of greenhouses in old mining galleries.” According to the regional Executive, there is already some international experience, such as the Growing Underground program, which takes advantage of the London bunkers of the Second World War: “at more than 30 meters deep, the largest underground orchard in the United Kingdom has been created, where different crops are grown, packaged and marketed. ”
Another project that the head of Science has pointed out is the installation of an underground research center, following the American model of the Dusel laboratory, in a South Dakota mine, where cutting-edge research is carried out at a depth of more than 2,000 meters without interference of particles from the earth’s surface.
The first step is to know the wells, galleries or exploitations that can be recoverable. To facilitate this work, a file will be prepared detailing aspects such as the geometry of said infrastructures or the design of the exploitation, the geology, hydrogeology, the environmental and structural conditions and other aspects, such as the status of the concessions and authorizations. administrative.
The Minister of Science, Innovation and the University of Asturias, Borja Sánchez, has encouraged companies in the sector to participate in the working group “in order to promote public-private initiative, with viable and competitive projects that can attract funds Europeans for the reconstruction of the Principality “.
*The heat network of the Barredo Well, in Mieres, has been one of the six projects awarded with the Global District Energy Climate Adwards, awards granted by the International Energy Agency that pass for being “the highest world recognition that can be obtained this type of urban energy infrastructure. ” The Mieres Heat Network (2.2 MW) uses mine water to provide heating and air conditioning to buildings. The network is operated by Hunosa.
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