A key milestone has been reached in one of the UK’s first large-scale mine water heat projects, with work now underway.
We’re working with a number of organisations to deliver the project, which will ultimately see mine water used to heat homes on a new sustainable community, near
#Seaham.
We’ve teamed up with the
@MiningRemAuth and
@KarbonHomes, to heat 750 affordable homes on the Seaham Garden Village development. The ultra-low carbon district heat network has thus far received more than £4m in government funding.
All legal and land agreements were recently completed, including the appointment of
@VitalEnergi to design, build and operate the ultra-low carbon district heat network that will heat half of the homes on the new garden village.
With the agreements in place, Vital has begun work to construct the energy centre, which will take heat to those homes.
Cllr Mark Wilkes, our Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said: “We are delighted to have started work on what will be the UK’s first large-scale mine water heat project using a mine water treatment scheme, right here in County Durham.
“This innovative project will have significant environmental benefits – making use of currently untapped heat to keep houses warm, and, in doing so, avoiding the need to use non-renewable sources of energy.
“The affordable properties will also provide a welcome boost to County Durham residents looking to get on the housing ladder; while the prospect of more homes, a school and innovation hubs in the future will, we hope, attract people looking for somewhere to live, families and those seeking work.”