The use of mine water in district heating systems – an example from Heerlen, Netherlands

The district heating system in Heerlen, the Netherlands makes use of an innovative approach: using mine water from a former coal mine as a geothermal heating source and for energy storage. The system is one of the first so-called 5th generation district heating and cooling (5GDHC) grids, an integrated heating and cooling system that uses a multitude of energy sources, technologies and digital tools to provide flexible supply specifically designed for the city’s fluctuating needs. Heerlen’s unique approach to its 5GDHC is an example of how to make use of the legacy of coal mining to generate significant benefits.