Energy Crops and Carbon Farming on Reclaimed Lignite Mining Sites: A Multi-Criteria Suitability Assessment for Climate-Positive Land Use as part of COFA Project

Former lignite mining regions across Europe present not only significant environmental challenges but also unique opportunities for climate-positive land use. These areas are often degraded due to soil compaction, contamination, altered hydrology, and landscape disruption. However, they also offer lands suitable for agricultural reclamation in terms of carbon farming and biomass production. The COFA project (From Coal to Farm) aims to promote evidence-based land management decisions, contributing to the just transition of former lignite-dependent regions. It promotes climate mitigation, renewable energy generation (biomass), and sustainable development.

Our study develops a multi-criteria framework to assess the suitability of reclaimed lignite mining sites for energy crops and carbon farming, integrating multiple environmental factors. Key factors considered include terrain morphology, area, soil quality and degradation type, hydrological conditions, neighbouring land-uses, proximity to biomass power plants and the potential for alternative land uses such as food production, PV installations, or natural succession. The framework aims to identify sites where energy crops and carbon farming can be environmentally viable and socio-economically beneficial. Our research demonstrates how multi-criteria assessments can support the transformation of post mining regions into productive, climate-positive areas. It aligns with the objectives of the European Green Deal and broader sustainable redevelopment goals.