The transformation of old coal mines into productive sites for solar energy is revolutionizing the global energy sector. As coal mining loses ground to cleaner sources, vast areas that for decades were dedicated to this fossil fuel are being converted into solar fields capable of powering entire countries.
Experts and various international organizations estimate that if the potential of closed coal mines is harnessed, nearly 300 gigawatts (GW) of solar power could be added to the global energy mix before the end of the decade. The figures come from recent research by organizations such as Global Energy Monitor, which has tracked mine closures and calculated the surface area suitable for large-scale solar panels.
A global potential driven by great powers
Worldwide, the closure of hundreds of mines in recent years has left more than 2.000 km² available to be converted into solar plants. Australia alone, one of the world's leading producers, has approximately 1.470 km² already identified as suitable for this type of project, equivalent to a potential capacity of around 73 GW.
China is currently leading the conversion of old coal mines, with 90 solar projects already underway and another 46 in the planning phase. Its case serves as an example for other major producing countries, such as the United States, Indonesia, and India, whose territories contain the majority of the land degraded by mining and now available for renewable energy.
The proximity of these mines to existing electrical infrastructure, such as substations and transmission lines, facilitates the immediate integration of new solar generation into the grid. Global Energy Monitor estimates that more than 95% of mines closed in recent years are located within 10 km of an electrical grid, removing one of the main barriers to installing large-scale solar plants.
Environmental, social and economic benefits
The conversion of these spaces goes far beyond the production of clean electricity. Various analyses suggest that installing solar plants in abandoned mines could create more than 250.000 permanent jobs and another 317.000 temporary jobs in construction alone—significantly higher than the jobs expected to disappear in the coal industry by 2035.
In addition to revitalizing jobs and boosting the local economy, the reuse of degraded land It allows us to solve a double problem: the ecological restoration of areas affected by mining and the search for spaces for new renewable infrastructure, all without generating conflict with other land uses, such as agriculture or nature conservation.
In many cases, environmental remediation includes sealing of former toxic waste dumps and groundwater management., essential tasks to ensure the stability of the land and the safety of nearby communities.
Featured cases and future challenges
Several countries have already launched emblematic conversion projects. In Australia, for example, plans have been announced to install more than 2,7 GW of solar energy on old mines, while in China the total installed figure exceeds 14 GW and continues to grow year on year.
Transforming a disused mine is not always an easy task. Administrative procedures, bureaucracy, and the need to ensure the physical stability of the land (especially in mines located below the water table, such as Hazelwood or Yallourn in Australia) can delay the implementation of new solar farms. Sometimes, the solution is to fill mining voids with water or fill materials to prevent the risk of subsidence and damage to nearby infrastructure.
Most projects benefit from the availability of nearby power grids, which reduces costs and boosts economic viability. Reclaiming these lands for other uses is also generating interest: in Australia, alternatives such as gravity-based energy storage in mine shafts or the development of pumped hydroelectric plants, always in combination with solar and wind energy, are already being explored.
Prospects for the coming years
The conversion of coal mines into solar installations could account for up to 15% of the new global solar capacity planned for 2030. This, combined with the large portfolio of large-scale solar projects under development (more than 2.000 GW worldwide), marks a paradigm shift that not only helps meet international climate commitments but also represents a realistic alternative for regenerating regions traditionally tied to coal.
This strategy, in addition to mitigating land use conflicts and reducing unemployment in mining areas, accelerates the transition to cleaner energy.As analysts point out, the key lies in adopting appropriate policies and legal frameworks to facilitate the rapid transformation of these areas and ensure the success of the energy transition, without neglecting local communities or environmental objectives.
