Could old coal mines help ease China’s solar-panel overcapacity?

China leads the world in converting decommissioned coal-mining sites into solar power projects, a trend that promises to advance the clean energy transition while potentially reducing a surplus of solar panels produced by struggling Chinese manufacturers, according to Global Energy Monitor (GEM).

Conversion of surface-mined lands into solar-generation projects had surged in 15 countries, particularly over the past couple of years, the non-governmental organisation said in a report on Wednesday.

In mainland China – the world’s largest producer and consumer of coal – 90 former coal mines were operating as solar-power facilities, with a total generating capacity of 14 gigawatts (GW), GEM said. An additional 46 projects representing 9GW were in the planning stages, it added.

“Repurposing mines for solar development offers a rare chance to bring together land restoration, local job creation, and clean energy deployment in a single strategy,” said Wu Chengcheng, project manager at GEM and co-author of the report.

Outside China, 14 countries, including Australia, the US and Greece, were pursuing conversion projects, targeting a total of 11GW of solar capacity, according to GEM. However, most projects were still in the early stages, with only a small fraction operational.

The report said such projects could help address land-utilisation issues, as the world had closed more than 6,000 coal mines since 2010, mostly in China and the US. More were expected to close under national commitments to phase out coal in 33 countries, GEM added.

“I wouldn’t discount politics for influencing these trends,” said Ryan Driskell Tate, associate director at GEM. “These projects turn ‘abandoning’ into ‘rebuilding’ and are incredibly symbolic of a just energy transition.”