27/08/2026
From coal to clean energy
Coal mining helped build the North East. Today, the same mines are helping to shape its low-carbon future.
At Lanchester W**es, we're proud to be the first private business in Great Britain to harness heat from disused coal mines, using geothermally heated mine water to reduce the carbon footprint of our Gateshead warehouses by 80%.
It's a project that feels particularly fitting in a region whose identity is so closely linked to mining.
While the coal industry may be gone, its legacy lives on through the Gateshead Mine Water Heat Network, one of Europe's largest live, city-scale heat systems. Developed by the and , it supplies sustainable heat to businesses, homes and iconic landmarks including and
It's a powerful example of how the North East continues to innovate, transforming its industrial heritage into solutions for a lower-carbon future.
We're delighted to be featured in Oliver Gordon's recent article for , which explores how former coalfield communities are turning a historic industry into a source of clean, renewable heat.
Read the full story here https://reasonstobecheerful.world/mine-water-heat-gateshead/
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