Syllabus: 

GS3: 

Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.

Context: 

Coal mines that have been abandoned and those which are expected to close by the end of this decade hold enough potential photovoltaic (PV) solar capacity to power a country the size of Germany for a year, finds a new report from Global Energy Monitor (GEM).

More on the News 

• The first-of-its-kind analysis draws on data from the Global Coal Mine Tracker to identify 312 surface coal mines that have been idled and degraded since 2020. 
• These abandoned mines sprawl over 2,089 square kilometres, an area nearly the size of Luxembourg, according to a press statement.
• With repurposing, these coal-to-solar projects site on derelict lands have potential to generate 103 gigawatts (GW) of solar power capacity, according to GEM.
• The analysis further identifies 3,731 sq. km of mine land that may be abandoned by operators before the end of 2030, owing to the depletion of reserves and the reported life of the mine. 
• If those operations close, they could site an additional 185 GW of solar power capacity.
• The new data on coal-to-solar projects shows that China has 90 operational coal mine-to-solar conversions, with a capacity of 14 GW, and 46 more projects, with 9 GW, in planning.
• While the next four major coal producers — Australia, the U.S., Indonesia and India— have nearly three-quarters of the global potential for coal to solar transitions.

Relevance for India:

• India ranks fourth globally in solar power potential from abandoned coal mines, with research showing that repurposing this land can boost energy supply and create jobs.
• The Global Energy Monitor found 63 abandoned mine sites in India spanning 500 sq km, with the potential to generate 27.11 GW of solar power, about 37% of India’s current solar capacity.
• Telangana, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh rank among the top 20 global regions for available land from closed mines, with a combined solar potential of over 22 GW.
• Over 3,800 coal mines produce 95% of the world’s coal, but with 33 countries pledging to phase out coal, many are set to close in the coming years.

Advantages 

• Strategic Location: A significant advantage is that 96% of recently abandoned coal mines are located within 10 km of existing transmission grid infrastructure, and 91% are close to connection points like substations. This significantly reduces the cost and complexity of grid integration.
• Solar Redevelopment: Besides India, countries like Australia, Indonesia, and the US have strong potential for solar use on former mines. GEM identified 28 such countries with a combined solar potential of 288 GW.
• Employment Opportunities: The shift to solar could generate around 259,700 permanent jobs and 317,500 temporary or construction jobs in these regions.  +

Challenges

Environmental risk: Abandoned coal mines also pose environmental and safety risks, with one of them being methane leakage. 

• This greenhouse gas, with 28 times the warming potential of CO₂ over 100 years, can leak from coal seams long after mining ends unless addressed.
• Recently closed underground mines in the European Union still emit nearly 200,000 tonnes of methane each year.

Fatal Accident risk: Improperly managed sites can also lead to fatal accidents and long-term damage. 

• In India, roof collapses at illegally operated abandoned mines have proved deadly. 
• In Pennsylvania, abandoned mine voids have caused sinkholes under parks and residential areas. 
• In South Africa, they’ve led to polluted water supplies and degraded agricultural land.

Policy Gaps: The report highlights that many closed coal mines remain idle due to a lack of clear policies governing closure and the return of land rights.

Community Concerns: Cases like Bianjiaqu in China show that ignoring local concerns, damaging fertile farmland, and inadequate compensation can lead to conflicts.