Republic of Ireland: Lecture on Geothermal Heat from Abandoned Coal Mines in South Wales

Ground source heating in Wales: baseline mapping and operational systems utilising abandoned coal workings and shallow urban aquifers (GAI/IAH)

February 7th, Geological Survey of Ireland, Beggars Bush, Dublin

Gareth Farr of the British Geological Survey, Cardiff will be talking about harnessing low enthalpy heat from urban groundwater systems and abandoned mines in Wales.

The talk will outline work in two contrasting hydrogeological environments namely the South Wales Coalfield (flooded underground mines) and the City of Cardiff (shallow gravel aquifer influenced by the subsurface urban heat island effect). In both areas trial systems have been constructed and now work is underway to upscale these into integrated heat networks.

There are technical, regulatory and societal challenges that need to be overcome to ensure ground source heating can become more of a mainstream way to generate heat, increase energy security and decrease fuel poverty.

More information..........