Repurposing post-mining land for solar energy: A GIS-based assessment of photovoltaic potential

New climate policies are expected to accelerate a transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. This energy transition will be especially challenging for regions where the economy depends on the extraction of energy resources. In the past, mine closures have frequently caused social, economic, and environmental problems. Mining activities also result in large areas of degraded land that in effect become difficult to manage and reuse. Mining regions thus need just transition strategies which allow for the practical use of these degraded areas. Here we show the example of a former coal-mining city in Poland to investigate how undeveloped land surfaces can be used for solar energy production in areas degraded by industrial activity. Using two methods to assess solar potential, we found that about 62% of roof areas and 77% of waste dumps receive moderate to high amounts of sunlight. Waste dumps appear particularly suited for large-scale solar installations, with an estimated capacity of 90 to 116 MWp, which could cover approximately 29% of the city's annual electricity demand. The results indicate that post-mining areas can provide suitable conditions for renewable energy development.