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Low-carbon heat for low-income communities: Locally owned business models to capture mine water geothermal heat for Scotland’s ex-mining communities

Low-carbon heat for low-income communities: Locally owned business models to capture mine water geothermal heat for Scotland’s ex-mining communities
Low-carbon heat for low-income communities: Locally owned business models to capture mine water geothermal heat for Scotland’s ex-mining communities

Supervisors - Dr. Matthew Hannon, University of Strathclyde and Prof. Jan Webb, University of Edinburgh

PhD Student - Finlay Bain Kerr, University of Starthclyde

Status - In Progress

This PhD explores strategies to deliver affordable low-carbon heat to low-income communities. The focus is on supplying mine water geothermal district heating (MGDH) to deprived ex-mining communities across Scotland’s Central Belt, in such a way that supports local economic growth and tackles fuel poverty. Whilst technical barriers remain, MGDH projects already exist in the UK and beyond. Alongside technical considerations, of critical importance are the policy, market and social conditions necessary to incentivise
and enable local stakeholders to deliver MGDH. We therefore examine the business models, finance, legal structures, partnerships and policy frameworks, that will encourage local actors to deliver MGDH.