Optimisation of the reuse of decommissioned open cast pit coal mines for district heating and cooling

The key research question in this project is:

• To use numerical modelling tools to evaluate the best back-filling arrangement of open cast coal mines for their exploitation as sources of heat.

The details

Meeting the future-emission reduction targets requires innovative ideas.

In traditionally coal mining intensive regions, common to both Australia and Germany, the use of decommissioned mines remains an intensive topic of debate between local officials, residents and technical experts.

This study will focus on numerical modelling tools to evaluate the best back-filling arrangement of open cast coal mines for their exploitation as sources of heat for districts. For example, the use of materials with different thermal gradients can have a positive effect on the energy production of such installations. This will be investigated alongside other variables, such as well depth and position, and groundwater flow.

The graduate researcher on this project is: Mauricio Ignacio Cárcamo Medel

Supervision team

• The University of Melbourne: Associate Professor Guillermo Narsilio
• RWTH Aachen: Professor Raul Fuentes