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Acronym:
GeoSolar
Title:
Coupled mine water geothermal and solar energy storage systems for low-carbon, high-temperature district heating.
Description:
A large number of coal mines in Europe are planning mine closure and a just post-closure transition. GeoSolar is an interdisciplinary project aiming to repurpose end-of-life coal mines as gigantic thermal batteries for low-carbon, high-temperature district heating, making use of mine land for solar energy installations and mine workings and goaf for thermal energy storage. This project will develop innovative coupled mine water thermal and solar energy storage systems integrated with local district heat networks, benefitting from a complementary and well-balanced consortium involving research institutes, coal mine stakeholders, geothermal energy developers, and district heat suppliers. The project will first map out mine workings and goaf areas suitable for deploying such coupled systems at two end-of-life coal mines in Slovenia and Poland, demonstrating two representative types of mine systems, hydrological conditions, and post-mining transition scenarios in Europe. To underpin safe operations of such coupled systems, the project will carry out groundwater and mine water level and quality monitoring and assessment, and post-closure mine water rebound prediction and management. Coupled multiphysics modelling of mine water flow and heat storage dynamics will be performed to evaluate the operability and efficiency of the coupled energy storage system during seasonal mine water thermal energy storage and recovery. Last, the project will design and develop system integration amongst the mine water thermal energy storage loop, solar energy loop, and district heat networks, with optimised heat demand and supply management. The deployment of the proposed system is anticipated to achieve widespread societal benefits and social impact, in terms of green energy production, decarbonisation potential, economic growth, and green job creation. The proposed system is also projected to have a huge potential for efficient uptake at European end-of-life and abandoned coal mines.
Duration:
01.10.2025 -30.09.2029
Project coordinator:
Utrecht University, Netherlands
Project leader at GIG - PIB:
dr inż. Ewa Janson
tel: +48 32 259 22 46
e-mail: ejanson@gig.eu
The project consortium was formed by the following partners:
- UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT, Netherlands
- GLOWNY INSTYTUT GORNICTWA - PIB
- PREMOGOVNIK VELENJE, Slovenia
- POLSKA GRUPA GORNICZA SA
- ZAVOD ENERGETSKA AGENCIJA ZA SAVINJSKO SALESKO IN KOROSKO, Slovenia
- TAURON POLSKA ENERGIA SA
Website:
geosolar.sites.uu.nl
