Converting closed coal mines to solar energy plants could boost global solar capacity by 15%, according to a new report by the US think tank Global Energy Monitor (GEM).
In total, an estimated 446 coal mines covering 5,820 square kilometers of abandoned land could be suitable for solar repurposing, according to the data from the Global Coal Mine Tracker which identifies 312 surface coal mines that have been idled and degraded since 2020.
"With development, those projects could harbor nearly 300 GW of photovoltaic solar potential, equivalent to 15% of the globally installed solar capacity," GEM's latest report revealed.
In other words, the potential solar capacity is enough to meet the annual energy needs of a country the size of Germany, the report added.
Spanning 2,089 square kilometers, an area nearly the size of Luxembourg, these abandoned mines could host 103 gigawatts of solar power if repurposed, the analysis found.
The report also identifies 3,731 square kilometers of mine land that could be abandoned by operators before 2030 due to reserve depletion and the expected lifespan of the mines.
"If those operations close, they could site an additional 185 GW of solar power capacity," it added.
The data shows China leads with 90 operational coal-to-solar projects totaling 14 gigawatts and 46 more planned at 9 gigawatts, while Australia, the US, Indonesia and India hold nearly 75% of global coal-to-solar conversion potential.
"Not only would this conversion help the world towards the global goal of tripling renewables capacity by the end of the decade, it would also provide an economic incentive for reclamation and cleaning up the mess left after mining, which is not standard routine in much of the world," GEM said.
The report estimates that coal-to-solar transition projects could generate 259,700 permanent jobs and 317,500 temporary and construction jobs, exceeding the number of workers the global coal industry is projected to lose by 2035.
"The greatest potential for solar redevelopment on mine lands is found in some of the world's largest coal-producing countries, Australia, Indonesia, the US, and India," it added.
The Associate Director at Global Energy Monitor, Ryan Driskell Tate, said coal companies going bankrupt and laying off workers has left behind devastating consequences.
"But mined-out coalfields harbor huge potential for powering a clean energy future. It's already happening," Tate said.
"We just need the right mix of incentives to put people to work building the next generation of solar in coal country." he added.
Commenting on the report, a project manager for the Energy Transition Tracker at Global Energy Monitor, Cheng Cheng Wu said: "The legacy of coal is written into the land, but that legacy does not have to define the future."
Noting that the coal-to-solar transition is underway, with major coal-producing countries like Australia, the US, Indonesia and India poised to unlock significant potential, Wu said: "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," she added.
