Use of Coal Mines Facilities in Northern Spain for the Production of Sustainable Energy

Abstract: The Asturian Central Coal Basin in northern Spain has been a highly exploited coal mining area for many decades and its network of tunnels extends among more than 30 mines. Parts of this infrastructure will soon become available for alternative uses since most of the coal mining facilities in Spain will fade out in 2018 (European Decision 2010/787/UE). By 2020 it is intended that the country produces 20% of its energy from renewable sources, therefore replacing the energy based on coal and gas. Then, one of the main challenges for making this happen is the energy storage system, which creates a robust network that balances surplus and peaks of energy demand over short coverage intervals. Pumped storage hydroelectricity from mine water in the closured coal mines has proved to be an effective solution for this purpose.