176 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. In the reference state, mine water discharged from the facility is characterized by high salinity, resulting in substantial chloride and sulfate loads entering the receiving surface water body. Assuming an average discharge of 10,000 m³/day and a total dissolved solids concentration of 30–60 g/dm³, the annual salt load released into the environment is estimated at approximately 110,000–220,000 tonnes per year. In the transformation scenario, the application of nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) technologies results in a 60–85% reduction in salt loads in the discharged effluent. This corresponds to a reduction of approximately 70,000–185,000 tonnes of salts per year. The
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