Durham County Council has identified sustainable heat as a major challenge. With relatively cold, damp weather conditions, carbon emissions from heat are estimated to comprise almost 50% of the total emissions in the county, while 99% of heat is still generated from fossil fuel sources.
Geothermal heat offers significant opportunities. The council has the best deep geothermal opportunities in the country and is exploring these, alongside the exciting opportunities offered by heat from the flooded coalmines that underlie much of the County Durham area. Working with the Coal Authority, the council is exploring a series of schemes around district heat, individual building heat and other heat related possibilities at sites across County Durham.
Please note – this was published when Labour controlled Durham County Council between 2009-2021.
