Mine water heat scheme in Wales, UK starts operations
The Lindsay mine treatment scheme in Wales, UK (source: video screenshot, Mining Remediation Authority)
Carlo Cariaga
4 Jun 2025
The first commercial mine water heating scheme in Wales in the UK has started operations supplying low-carbon heat to a nearby industrial facility.
The first commercial mine water heat scheme in Wales in the UK has started operations, supplying clean and stable heat to an industrial facility near Ammanford. The project is part of the work commissioned by the Welsh government to map areas of Wales most suited for mine water heat schemes.
The Mining Remediation Authority operates the Lindsay treatment scheme where an average of 25 liters of mine water per second is treated to remove about 28 kilograms of iron per day. This prevents the mine water from contaminating the local watercourses, including the Ffrwd Brook which flows into the River Loughor. This is important work in ensuring that aquatic ecosystems are maintained clean and healthy. The Lindsay operation has been ongoing since 2018.
The mine water is naturally warm due to geothermal energy heating the water in former coal mines. Working in collaboration with local business Thermal Earth Ltd, the renewable heat project secured funding through Innovate UK’s New Innovators in Net Zero Industry, South West Wales initiative. The system works by using heat exchangers submerged in one of the settlement ponds at the Lindsay scheme to recover heat from mine water, which is then transferred to a nearby industrial unit to supply low-carbon heating and hot water, and is predicted to save 17.5 tonnes of CO2 per year.
The new development in Wales follows the successful implementation of a mine water heating scheme in Gateshead which started operations back in 2023.
“It’s been incredibly rewarding to see this forward-thinking project, transforming part of our mining legacy into a source of clean, renewable heat,” said Andrew Simpson, head of Innovation, By-Products and Services at the Mining Remediation Authority. “It’s a powerful example of how innovation, collaboration and technical expertise can work together to deliver real-world solutions to the climate challenge.”
A short video on the Wales mine water heating and treatment scheme can be seen below:
Source: Gov.uk
