Challenges and Opportunities for End-of-Life Coal Mine Sites: Black-to-Green Energy Approach

This paper presents the possibilities of adapting active mines to generate green energy after their closure using resources and/or infrastructure. For this purpose, firstly, temporal horizon selected in Poland was determined, its basic assumption being analysis current state. In research, 18 mining plants operating within 12 Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB) were analyzed. The analyzed belong three five largest hard coal producers Poland, and main object exploitation is types. Severe restrictions or even abandonment further investments development industry taken into consideration (regarding construction new shafts levels). When determining horizon, challenges that hamper based at levels natural hazards depth each mine considered. Secondly, criteria for adaptation are presented. possibility infrastructural potential produce geothermal from water, extracting coalbed methane (CBM), processes underground gasification (UCG) Finally, a example—generating Polish conditions—a structural performed MICMAC method, as Central Mining Institute has an extensive experience trials mines. Based on expert analysis, important UCG selected. As demonstrated article, method can be applied other scenarios with different implement technologies