Bright side of the mine

Global Energy Monitor identifies a significant opportunity to install nearly 300 GW of solar capacity on surface coal mines closed since 2020 or expected to close by 2030. These sites are highly suitable due to their proximity to existing grid infrastructure and the fact that they are already cleared of vegetation. While China leads in operational conversions, substantial potential exists in Australia, Indonesia, India, and the United States. The transition could create over 570,000 total jobs (permanent and temporary), potentially offsetting global coal mining job losses by 2035. However, challenges include complex land ownership, higher capital costs for remediation compared to greenfield sites, and the need for regulatory frameworks to ensure a just transition for local communities.

• Surface coal mines closed since 2020 and those forecasted to close by the end of 2030 could support nearly 300 GW of photovoltaic solar 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 viable for solar development due to their proximity to power grids. For recently abandoned mines, 96% are within 10 km of the grid and 91% are within 10 km of a connection point like a substation.
• The transition from coal to solar could generate 259,700 permanent jobs in sectors such as manufacturing and professional services, plus 317,500 temporary construction jobs. Combined, these exceed the number of global coal industry workers expected to be shed by 2035.
• China is the global leader in coal-to-solar conversions, with 90 operational projects providing 14 GW of capacity and another 46 projects in the planning phase with a capacity of 9 GW.
• Significant solar redevelopment potential exists in major coal-producing nations: Australia could support over 73 GW, Indonesia nearly 60 GW, the United States 49 GW, and India more than 27 GW.
• Repurposing mines for solar can mitigate environmental hazards and climate threats, such as sealing methane leaks from abandoned seams by covering the site with soil or gravel to create a physical barrier.
• Economic and legal barriers hinder development, including the difficulty of tracing land ownership after bankruptcies and higher capital costs per megawatt compared to greenfield sites due to necessary soil remediation and terrain leveling.

APA

Global Energy Monitor (2025). Bright side of the mine. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-coal-to-solar-June-2025_3.pdf

Chicago

Global Energy Monitor. Bright side of the mine. 2025. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-coal-to-solar-June-2025_3.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Energy Monitor |title=Bright side of the mine |date=June 2025 |url=https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-coal-to-solar-June-2025_3.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalenergymonitor2025bright, author = {{Global Energy Monitor}}, title = {{Bright side of the mine}}, institution = {Global Energy Monitor}, year = {2025}, month = jun, url = {https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-coal-to-solar-June-2025_3.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }