Reclaiming Coal Country: 300 GW Solar Goldmine From Coal Mine Conversions
In a landmark report released this month, Global Energy Monitor reveals that converting recently closed and soon-to-be-retired coal mines into solar farms could boost global solar capacity by nearly 300 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 — a 15% increase over today’s total installed solar base.
The report, titled “Bright Side of the Mine,” presents a compelling case for transforming more than 5,800 square kilometers of degraded mine land into clean energy hubs. Global Energy Monitor’s (GEM) analysis, the first of its kind, surveys over 300 surface coal mines closed since 2020 and another 127 projected to close by 2030, estimating their combined solar potential at 288 GW.
Grid-Ready, Job-Rich, & Environmentally Smart
Among the report’s key findings: nearly all identified mine sites lie within 10 kilometers of existing grid infrastructure, offering a rare advantage for rapid solar deployment. These transitions could create an estimated 577,000 jobs worldwide — with 259,700 permanent roles and 317,500 in construction — more than offsetting the jobs projected to be lost in the coal mining sector by 2035.
“The legacy of coal is written into the land, but that legacy does not have to define the future. The coal mine to solar transition is underway, and this potential is ready to be unlocked in major coal producers like Australia, the U.S., Indonesia and India. 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. With the right choices, the same ground that powered the industrial era can help power the climate solutions we now urgently need.”– Cheng Cheng Wu, Project Manager for the Energy Transition Tracker at Global Energy Monitor
China, Australia, & The US Lead The Way
China currently leads the coal-to-solar transition with 90 operational mine-to-solar projects totaling 14 GW, and another 9 GW in development. Australia, with more than 1,470 km² of mine sites, could support 73 GW, which is double its current solar fleet. The US follows with 217 eligible sites that could host 49 GW, a crucial opportunity amid national discussions on energy transition and economic renewal in coal regions.
India, South Africa, and Indonesia are also highlighted for their significant potential. India could host 27 GW on 500 km² of coal land, much of it in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh — coal heartlands with growing renewable energy needs.
Beyond Panels: Storage, Jobs, & Just Transition
Repurposed coal mines are not just sites for solar panels. Some are being considered for green hydrogen, battery storage, pumped hydro, or even geothermal energy. Others are combining solar with agriculture, ecological restoration, or pollinator meadows.
This multi-use approach can help meet climate and biodiversity goals while offering employment pathways to displaced coal workers. GEM estimates 2.1 jobs per megawatt of installed solar, and emphasizes that thoughtful redevelopment could be a cornerstone of a just transition for fossil-dependent communities.
Barriers & Solutions
While the potential is enormous, challenges remain. Legal hurdles, ownership disputes, complex permitting, and higher upfront costs (due to land remediation and terrain) can stall projects. But favorable policies, tax credits, and public-private financing could tip the scales.
In the US, the Clean Energy Demonstration Program on Current and Former Mine Land offered $450 million in 2023, but future funding remains uncertain. Meanwhile, in Europe and Asia, subnational governments and companies like RWE and Jinneng are pushing ahead with transformative projects on former coalfields.
A Global Call To Action
GEM’s report urges governments, developers, and investors to treat abandoned coal mines not as relics of the past, but as launchpads for solar futures. The 300 GW opportunity is not merely technical, it is a strategic chance to meet climate targets, revitalize economies, and repurpose land once left to decay.
The report concludes,
“The coal-to-solar opportunity is not theoretical. The world’s largest coal-producing regions hold the greatest potential for solar development on disturbed lands, in those places where grid connections often already exist, where skilled labor forces stand ready, and where reclamation is urgently needed. But realizing this potential will take deliberate action. The transformation will require policy frameworks that prioritize renewable development on mine lands, investment strategies that recognize the value of linking reclamation with clean energy, and community engagement that puts local jobs and local voices at the center of the work. But with the right choices, the same ground that powered the industrial age can help power the climate solutions we now urgently need.”
Read the full report at Global Energy Monitor.
Photo by Chris Münch on Unsplash
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