Mine water could be used to heat Wakefield mining museum and homes

Shaun McLoughlin said water in mines used to be seen as "just a nuisance"

The National Coal Mining Museum is exploring plans to provide heat and power for the site and nearby homes from flooded mine shafts.

Mine director Shaun McLoughlin said the site had the potential to heat homes in Overton, supply energy to HMP New Hall and decarbonise the museum.

A similar scheme using mine water which is naturally heated by geothermal energy is already in use in Gateshead.

Mr McLoughlin said the museum would need about £2m to fund the project.

"Here at the National Coal Mining Museum we've realised the potential of the heat from mine water, so we are currently in consultation with Kirklees and Wakefield Council to harness this potential," he said.

"There is enough energy at this mine to provide the heat to heat the houses in Overton, Newhall Prison and decarbonise the whole museum."

The scheme works by drawing water up to the surface from flooded mine shafts

In January, work by Ordnance Survey and the Coal Authority found that more than six million homes and 300,000 offices in the UK sit above abandoned coal mines.

Speaking at the time, Richard Bond, innovation and engagement director at the Coal Authority said he hoped that creating a map would "pave the way for local authorities and organisations to consider mine water heat as part of their low carbon aspirations more easily".

Mr McLoughlin, who worked as a miner for 39 years and was manager of Kellingley Colliery when it closed in 2015, said water in mines used to be "just a nuisance" so to see it now as a possible source of energy was "fascinating".

He said the museum currently pumped an average of 1.5m gallons of water from Hope Pit each day, all of which could potentially be used to provide heat.

He added that a scheme set up at the museum could also be opened up to the public as a "great visitor experience for people to see the science and technology at work".