Minewater Project

MINEWATER PROJECT - Between 2005 and 2008 a team of 7 European partners has been aiming to prove that it is technically possible, economically viable, legaly feasable and environmentally sound to extract geothermal energy from the water in former and closed mines on a large scale.
To test the Minewater concept, the city of Heerlen (leading partner) invested in drilling five wells to subtract minewater from mine galleries up to 700 metres below the Heerlen surface. The minewater temperatures seem promising for heating and cooling a city district and some large office buildings.
In the meantime, Weller Housing Association built a minewater power station designed to use water from the abandoned mines below to heat and cool over 200 homes, along with shops, a supermarket, a library and a school.
In december 2008, calculations indicated that minewater is indeed a long term economically viable resource, with energy rates not exceeding those of traditional energy sources. Use of minewater is estimated to reduce CO2 emission by 55%.
Copyright: Municipality of Heerlen, Big Eye Video productions and Jesaijes Communicatie

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