The conference “Clean Energy, Restored Lands: The Path Forward for Coal Regions” examined how European coal and lignite regions can transition from fossil fuel production to sustainable economic development through research, innovation, site restoration, and regional regeneration. Organised in partnership with EURACOAL for the EU Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) and the Coal Regions in Transition (CRiT) initiative of the European Commission, the event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and regional stakeholders. It was hosted at the German Mining Museum and the Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola in Bochum under the patronage of the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia.
A full report is available here along with presentations and videos.
The Mayor of Bochum, Jörg Lukat, welcomed participants with a brief history of his city and how it was shaped by structural change. State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy, Silke Krebs, delivered an opening keynote address in which she advised working together on shared plans that build on regional identities, while remaining open to change as events unfolded.
A major theme was the need to accelerate the commercial application of research results. Many promising technologies already exist, but success will depend on stable regulation, long-term investment, public acceptance, and market conditions that support large-scale deployment. Rather than liabilities, former mine and power plant sites are increasingly viewed as opportunities because they offer land, infrastructure, and water resources, coupled with skilled workforces. They are often good locations for renewable energy projects, energy storage schemes, and industrial redevelopment.
Several speakers emphasised that successful transition requires long-term strategic vision and planning, flexibility to adapt plans as circumstances change, and strong community engagement, with the aim that no one is left behind. The Ruhrgebiet’s transition from a coal-dominated economy to a knowledge-based economy was presented as an example of this approach.
The transition of the coal regions is taking place against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty. Speakers stressed that Europe’s decarbonisation objectives must be balanced with energy security, supply-chain resilience, access to critical raw materials, and strategic autonomy. The restoration of land and management of water resources remain important issues for post-mining areas. Veronica Manfredi, Director for Zero Pollution, Water Resilience and Green Urban Transition at the European Commission Directorate-General for Environment, highlighted water resilience as a strategic priority and called for improved management of floods, and droughts, better quality ground and surface waters, and more efficient water use by all sectors.
RWE presented plans for Europe’s largest mine restoration project as lignite mining in the Rhenish area comes to an end by 2030. Major pit lakes will be created at the Hambach, Garzweiller and Inden mines, necessitating the construction of the Rhine water transport pipeline, as well as long-term groundwater and environmental management programmes. The company’s goal is to create stable, productive landscapes, in balance with nature, that do not require permanent intervention.
The implementation of the EU Methane Regulation presents technical and economic challenges for former mining regions. Industry representatives called for practical and proportionate measures from the EU.
Several RFCS projects were presented that demonstrate how former mining areas can support future energy systems:
- ATLANTIS: pumped-hydro storage in former open-pit mines
- TRIDENT: thermal energy storage in artificial lakes
- CORAL: iron-based energy storage systems
- HIGHWAY and HELIA: high-temperature storage and hydrogen production technologies
- POSTEN: floating solar parks on degraded mining land
- SCoLINE: solar PV systems on spoil heaps using innovative anchoring technologies
Presenters argued that former mining and power plant infrastructure can help advance the deployment of these technologies, notably their grid connections. Former mine sites are among the few remaining areas available for large-scale energy projects, especially in the densely populated Ruhr region, but competing land uses create challenges.
The afternoon session focused on the environmental rehabilitation of mines and risk management with several more RFCS projects:
- POTENTIALS: redevelopment opportunities for former mines and power stations
- CRMsDataSpace: assessment of critical raw materials recovery from abandoned mine sites
- MiDSafe: monitoring and risk assessment of mining waste dumps
- RAFF: safe pit-lake flooding and restoration
- REECOL: ecological restoration techniques
- PRIMI: production of low-carbon construction materials from mine waste clay
- PRISMINE: predictive modelling with AI for mine monitoring and recovery
A common message was that disturbed lands and mining waste should increasingly be viewed as future resources rather than environmental liabilities. However, participants highlighted several obstacles from regulatory uncertainty through financing to public acceptance. All agreed that successful transformation projects needed good communication with stakeholders.
The conference concluded with details of the reformed Research Fund for Coal and Steel which will see project support offered until 2034 with its annual budget increased to €120 million and higher funding rates aligned with Horizon Europe. New calls for proposals will open on 3 February 2027 and in June 2027.
The conference demonstrated that the focus of European coal-region policy has shifted from managing decline to creating new value. Former mines and power plants are being transformed into hubs for renewable energy and energy storage. Water management remains a critical task, but also methane management. With opportunities for critical raw-material recovery and other circular economy activities, future innovations can unlock the full potential of the coal regions, providing there is a long-term political commitment, effective regulation, public support, and sustained investment.
