Abandoned mines to heat Glasgow homes

By JAMES JOHNSTONE
Published on 13/02/2013 00:00

A PROJECT that could provide up to 40 per cent of Glasgow’s heat using water from abandoned coal mines is under way.

A PROJECT that could provide up to 40 per cent of Glasgow’s heat using water from abandoned coal mines is under way.

Scientists from Glasgow Caledonian University will study the city’s old tunnels to find reservoirs that can be pumped to create geothermal energy.

The first stage of the work will focus on the Clyde Gateway Regeneration area, and will take three years to produce a blueprint of the entire city.

Geotechnical specialist Dr Nicholas Hytiris said once pools were found, ground-source heat pumps could be used to begin extracting heat from the water. This would then be used to heat homes.

He said: “We believe this technology will, in the long term, be able to provide cheaper and more sustainable heating, which could be an answer to fuel poverty issues prevalent in many areas of Glasgow, particularly those with a mining past and a legacy of poor-quality housing and high unemployment.

“After Hamburg and Stockholm, Glasgow could be the third city in the world to have under-street heating.

“In three years’ time we will have a full and accurate record of what is going on beneath our feet and then we can go on from there.”