1438 discharge from the mine. The application of an NF/RO system enables: ● reduction of chloride and sulfate concentrations by 60–85%; ● production of permeate suitable for reuse as process or industrial water; ● reduction of the brine stream requiring further management to approximately 15–25% of the influent volume. As a result, the amount of salt discharged directly into the surface reservoir (the Vistula River) is significantly reduced, leading to a significant reduction in environmental pressure at the catchment level. The concentrated brine streams generated during membrane treatment constitute the input for the mineral recovery module. The conceptual variant assumes the application of thickening and crystallization processes to enable the recovery of mineral salts in solid form. For the assumed water flow and concentration parameters, the annual recovery potential was estimated at 20,000–40,000 tonnes of salt concentrates. Depending on the detailed chemical composition of the brine, selective recovery of additional components—including potentially critical raw materials—may be considered, in line with circular economic principles. The third pillar of the system is an energy module based on renewable sources, primarily photovoltaic installations located on post-mining land. The adopted reference scenario assumes a PV capacity of 5–10 MWp dedicated primarily to supplying energy to the water treatment and desalination processes. Annual electricity production is estimated at 5–10 GWh/year, covering approximately 25–40% of the treatment system’s energy demand. This integration reduces indirect CO₂ emissions by an estimated 4,000–7,000 tonnes per year, depending on the emission intensity of the displaced grid electricity. The fourth, complementary component is a methane capture and utilization module serving both environmental and energy-related functions. The reference scenario assumes a methane capture potential of 0.5–2.0 million m³ CH₄ per year, consistent with typical values observed in mines undergoing phase-out in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. Captured methane is assumed to be utilized in combined heat and power (CHP) systems or as a process fuel, particularly for stabilizing energy supply to the water treatment installations. Integration of the methane module with the renewable energy system enables: ● reduction of fugitive methane emissions to the atmosphere; ● improvement of the overall energy balance of the system; ● increased energy self-sufficiency of the site during the transition and post-mining period. Through this two-stage methodology, the study establishes a technically grounded and replicable framework for the sustainable conversion of post-mining infrastructure into an integrated environmental and energy system. 4. RESULTS The results of the proposed transformation model for the Brzeszcze Mine were determined through a comparative analysis of the reference state (“before”) and the transformation scenario involving the implementation of an integrated environmental and energy system (“after”). The assessment encompasses environmental, energy, and functional effects relevant to the long-term management of the mine following the cessation of extraction activities.
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