Could a coal mine be a solar farm?

Patrick Pleul / picture alliance via Getty Images Recently shuttered coal mines around the world can have new life as solar farms, potentially adding nearly 300 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy by 2030, a first-of-its-kind analysis by researchers from Global Energy Monitor (GEM) has found.

How many coal mines can be repurposed for solar?

In total, that means an estimated 446 coal mines and 5,820 km² of abandoned land that could be repurposed for solar projects and generate nearly 300 GW of renewable energy. That’s a huge amount - equivalent to around 15 per cent of globally installed solar capacity today.

Is the coalmine to solar transition ready to be unlocked?

The coalmine to solar transition is underway, and this potential is ready to be unlocked in major coal producers like Australia, the U.S., Indonesia and India,” said Cheng Cheng Wu, project manager for GEM’s energy transition tracker, as The Guardian reported.

Could abandoned coal mines unlock a brighter and cleaner energy future?

Coal mines could be used to unlock a brighter, cleaner energy future. A new report by Global Energy Monitor reveals a major untapped opportunity in abandoned coal mines and those slated for closure this decade. These sites possess enough land to host solar power capacity equivalent to Germany’s annual electricity consumption.

How much solar power can we get from abandoned mines?

By 2030, another 3,700 square kilometers of mine land could become available, adding an incredible 185 gigawatts of potential solar capacity. All told, we’re looking at close to 300 gigawatts of solar power possible on these abandoned mine sites around the globe – that’s a huge chunk, 15 percent of all the solar capacity currently out there.

Could a 300 GW solar farm power Germany?

“The same ground that powered the industrial era can help power the climate solutions we now urgently need,” analysts say of the 300 GW solution. Converting abandoned or soon-to-close coal mines into solar farms could provide enough power to meet the demands of a country the size of Germany, according to a first-of-its-kind analysis.