Lib-Dems hail ex-coal mine heating plan

Howard Sykes

CONFIRMATION that Oldham Council will be supporting a bid to investigate the potential for using heat from disused coal mines has been welcomed by the leader of the Oldham Liberal Democrats.

Councillor Howard Sykes MBE welcomed the news that the council will be supporting a bid to Innovate UK (formerly the Technology Strategy Institute) for £200,000 to carry out feasibility work looking at the potential for ground-source heat from disused coal mines in Oldham to supply district heat networks.

He said: "Exactly two years ago in full council I asked the then leader of the council to commission a study with the other leaders of the Greater Manchester authorities to explore the potential of this power source across the county. I first became aware of that geothermic energy might be a viable possibility in Oldham when I read about the exciting plans in Scotland."

In 2013, the Scottish Government published a study which said as much as a third of the heat needed to keep Scotland warm could be provided by tapping geothermal energy from old coal mines.

In the meeting, Councillor Sykes urged the council to examine the potential of Oldham's coal mining heritage and that the many former coal mines may give off ground-source heat that could form part of the borough's renewable energy strategy.

Councillor Sykes added: "Although it has taken two years, I am pleased that the council has finally decided to take forward my suggestion. Let us hope that this leads to some concrete proposals that will help make Oldham a greener borough."