Solar’s opportunity to reclaim coal’s footprint

This report by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) analyzes the potential for repurposing abandoned and soon-to-be-closed surface coal mines into solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants. It argues that these sites are ideal for solar development due to their existing proximity to grid infrastructure and the need for land reclamation, offering a pathway to align clean energy goals with local job creation and environmental restoration.

• Surface coal mines closed since 2020 and those expected to close by the end of 2030 could support nearly 300 GW of solar PV capacity. Specifically, over 300 recently closed mines could house 103 GW, while 127 upcoming closures could host an additional 185 GW.
• Abandoned coal mines are highly suitable for solar siting because of their proximity to the electrical grid. For mines closed since 2020, 96% are within 10 km of the grid and 91% are within 10 km of a grid connection point like a substation.
• The transition from coal to solar could generate significant employment, including 259,700 permanent jobs in professional services, wholesale trade, distribution, and manufacturing, plus 317,500 temporary construction jobs. Combined, these exceed the number of global coal mining jobs expected to be lost by 2035.
• China is leading the coal-to-solar transition with 90 operational conversions providing 14 GW of capacity and another 46 projects in the planning phase with a capacity of 9 GW.
• Repurposing mines for solar helps mitigate environmental hazards and climate threats. It can stabilize unsettled ground and reduce methane emissions from abandoned seams by creating a physical barrier of soil or gravel that seals methane pathways.
• Despite the potential, several obstacles exist, including complex land ownership chains, burdensome permitting processes, and higher capital costs compared to greenfield sites due to the need for soil remediation and terrain leveling.
• Beyond solar, former mines are being used for other energy transition technologies, such as pumped hydropower storage, geothermal heat extraction from flooded tunnels, and 'floatovoltaics' on pit lakes.

APA

Deres, C. C. W. R. D.-T. H. (2025). Solar’s opportunity to reclaim coal’s footprint. Global Energy Monitor. https://globalenergymonitor.org/research/bright-side-mine

Chicago

Deres, Cheng Cheng Wu, Ryan Driskell-Tate, Hailey. Solar’s opportunity to reclaim coal’s footprint. Global Energy Monitor, 2025. https://globalenergymonitor.org/research/bright-side-mine.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Deres |first1=Cheng Cheng Wu, Ryan Driskell-Tate, Hailey |title=Solar’s opportunity to reclaim coal’s footprint |publisher=Global Energy Monitor |date=29 June 2025 |url=https://globalenergymonitor.org/research/bright-side-mine |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{deres2025solars, author = {Deres, Cheng Cheng Wu, Ryan Driskell-Tate, Hailey}, title = {{Solar’s opportunity to reclaim coal’s footprint}}, institution = {Global Energy Monitor}, year = {2025}, month = jun, url = {https://globalenergymonitor.org/research/bright-side-mine}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }