Water trapped around 150 metres beneath Gateshead is now being used to heat homes and public buildings through a 6-megawatt water-source heat pump. The system, which began operating in March 2023 after three years of development, draws heat from former coal mine workings and sends it through more than 5 kilometres of district heating pipes. It currently serves buildings including Gateshead College, the Baltic Arts Centre, offices and 350 council-owned homes. Plans include connecting another 270 privately owned homes, a conference centre and hotel. The project also provides researchers with data on how abandoned mine workings can support lower-carbon heating.
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