A Review of the Performance of Minewater Heating and Cooling Systems

As the decarbonisation of heating and cooling becomes a matter critical importance, it has been shown that flooded mines can provide reliable source low-carbon thermal energy production storage when coupled with appropriate demand via an heat transfer technology. This paper summarises potential resource represented by long legacy mining operations, means be extracted from (or rejected to) mine workings, then considers risks challenges faced minewater geothermal (MWG) schemes in planning, construction, operational phases. A combination site visits, interviews literature reviews informed concise, updated accounts for many systems installed across world, including hitherto unpublished systems. The found number previously reported MWG are now non-operational. Key encountered (which some cases have led to decommissioning) include clogging system components mineral precipitates (e.g., ochre), uncertainty targeting open voids their hydraulic behaviour, regarding longevity access resource, accumulated ongoing monitoring maintenance burdens.