Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of using disused mine shafts for clean energy creation using heat pump technology in Dover and Deal constituency.

To achieve net zero at lowest cost, we must look at how to accelerate all low carbon technologies including geothermal. The mine water from coal mines shows good potential as a renewable source for heat networks.

The government is therefore supporting mine water schemes at Gateshead and Seaham Garden Village through the Heat Network Investment Project and the Green Heat Network Fund. No specific assessment has been made in Dover and Deal and although the Mining Remediation Authority has released opportunity maps for Wales and ten UK cities these do not cover this area.