Karbon Homes’ affordable homes at Seaham Garden Village are now connected to a heat network powered by water from abandoned coal mines.
The first 50 homes are occupied, with the next phase due to be handed over by lead construction partner Esh Group in the coming months. All 750 Karbon homes on the development will be connected on completion.
The network uses mine water treated at the Dawdon mine water treatment scheme in Seaham. A new energy centre uses heat exchangers and a heat pump to extract and boost heat from the water, which is naturally heated by geothermal processes underground and stays at a stable temperature year-round. The heat is then distributed through a district network.
Karbon is working on the project with the Mining Remediation Authority, Vital Energi and Durham County Council. The network is the latest mine water heat scheme to go live in Great Britain.
Sarah Robson, executive director of development and asset management at Karbon Homes, said: “Seaham Garden Village is a thriving new community with sustainability at its heart. We are delighted to be working with partners on this innovative mine water heating project, which will provide affordable heating for our customers by utilising the heat of the water available right under our feet.
“In addition, our homes are built to the highest energy standards which includes solar panels, battery storage and EV charging points which also help to make the homes cheaper to run.”
Rob Callaghan, managing director at Vital Community Energi, said: “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.”
The system will power half of the 1,500 homes planned for the garden village over the next 10 years. The village was granted garden village status by the government in 2019.
The scheme is expected to save an estimated 2,600 tonnes of CO2 a year, or about 65,000 tonnes over 25 years. It received funding through the government’s Heat Networks Investment Project.
Andrew Simpson, head of innovation, by-products and services delivery at the Mining Remediation Authority, said: “It is exciting to see our Dawdon mine water treatment scheme successfully transition to dual use. This project is proof of how innovation and partnership can unlock clean, affordable heating for communities today. It also shows how geothermal energy from disused mines can be replicated across the country.”
An estimated 25% of UK homes and businesses are located above former coal mines.
Mark Binns, operations director at Esh Construction, said: “This is another significant milestone for Seaham Garden Village and a testament to the collaborative effort behind the development. With residents now living in the first 50 homes and further phases progressing on site, it is rewarding to see this innovative energy solution begin to deliver tangible benefits. By combining sustainable construction with pioneering low-carbon heating technology, we are helping to create homes that are more energy efficient, more affordable to run and built for the future.”
Main image: Representatives from Karbon Homes, Durham County Council, Vital Energi and the Mining Remediation Authority at the Karbon show homes at Seaham Garden Village
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