Brown Political Review
Summary
British coal mines were central to the Industrial Revolution, fueling factories and heavy machinery at a previously unimaginable pace. Coal mining in England began in the early 1500s, and production steadily increased to a peak of 287 million tons in 1913. Coal deposits are primarily extracted in two ways: from surface or open-cast mines, and from underground or deep mines. In England, a majority of coal production came from deep mining—a technique used to extract coal deposits that were typically situated between 100 and 2,000 feet below ground. Today, deep mines are a relic of the past; as of 2019, only 4 of Britain’s more than 1,000 deep mines remain in operation. Yet, abandoned mining sites could pave the way to a net-zero carbon future for England. By harnessing geothermal mine water and pumping it to the Earth’s surface, old mines could provide Britain with sustainable energy that is both locally sourced and low-cost.
The process of deriving geothermal energy from abandoned mine sites is relatively simple, as it leverages existing structures. First, a small hole—known as a borehole—is drilled into the workings of the mine. Water, already warmed by natural geological processes, is then pumped to the surface. A pump further heats this water before directing it into a district heating network. Then, cold mine water is reinjected into the mine through a separate borehole, and the process repeats.
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