How Seaham Garden Village has repurposed the mining industry
An above-ground mine water heating system has allowed the Dawdon Colliery to once again provide heat for its local community after 35 years.
The heating system forms part of the wider Seaham Garden Village heat network, a new community that has been established on Durham’s Heritage coast.
The first homes at Seaham Garden Village are now receiving low-carbon heat from the network. These homes have been supplied by Karbon Homes, who plan to deliver 750 homes across the development.
With the support of its partners, the Mining Remediation Authority, Karbon Homes, and Durham County Council, Vital Energi have delivered the state-of-the-art energy centre that has repurposed the mining industry.
A water source heat pump will extract and boost heat from the disused mine water and will distribute it through a network of buried district heating pipes.
“This project is proof of how innovation and partnership can unlock clean, affordable heating for communities today.
Seaham Garden Village could deliver a total of 1,500 homes alongside a range of community amenities. These could include a health and wellbeing hub, a primary school and community allotments.
Together, these investments will strengthen local infrastructure and help ensure communities are not left behind in the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Vital Community Energy, the consumer energy brand within the Vital Energi group, will own and run the system. They will provide the full customer-facing service for residents, including metering and billing through the proprietary Glass app and access to a 24/7 operation and maintenance team.”
“I am proud that Seaham Garden Village will operate under our complete Energy Services Company (ESCo), marking another significant milestone in the expansion of our owned and operated heat networks. As with all our ESCo projects, customers remain our top priority. That is why we have ensured residents benefit from stable and efficient heating and hot water, delivering lasting benefits into a community directly affected by the closure of the mines.”
With 25% of UK homes and businesses situated above former coal mining areas, this project is pioneering low-carbon energy generation by transforming abandoned infrastructure into valuable green heat sources.