Heat generated by water which has flooded into old mines could warm almost 1,000 homes in the upper Llynfi Valley in the future.
It is one of two ambitious renewable energy projects being investigated by Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC), which could cut bills for up to 11,000 homes across the county.
In the upper LlynFfi Valley, the idea is to pump water from the mine workings – which at 10°C to 14°C (50° to 57°F) is a geothermal source of energy – and transport it through a network of pipes to residents’ properties.
There, the heat will be extracted and passed through a heat pump, which will then provide heat for the property using its existing radiator system.
The mine water would not, at any point, enter the homes of residents.
Feasibility studies have begun into both schemes thanks to a £67,000 grant to BCBC from the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
