First mine with green energy by Willemien Groot*02-10-2008The...

First mine with green energy by Willemien Groot*

02-10-2008
The city of Heerlen in the southern Dutch province of Limburg will soon be the first in the world to heat and cool homes and offices using water from abandoned and flooded mines. At the same spot where dirty energy came from the ground in the form of coal, green energy will be produced with geothermal energy from mine water.

The Oranje Nassau 1 mine shafts are flooded. The deeper they go below the earth's surface, the warmer the water. The water will be pumped up from a depth of 800 metres, where it is around 35 degrees Celsius, and used as geothermal energy. The green energy can warm 350 homes, along with offices, shops and a library.

The water is only 15 degrees at a depth of 200 metres. This is an appropriate temperature to cool buildings during the summer months. After use, the water will be pumped back into the mine where it can be heated again for further use.