This paper is the result of geothermal exploration engineering. Objective With the gradual adjustment of China's energy structure and the implementation of coal capacity reduction policy, the number of closed/abandoned coal mines has increased in recent years. Under normal circumstances, conventional geothermal mining faces problems such as large investment costs and easy to induce geological and environmental disasters, while closed/abandoned coal mines contain abundant hot water and space resources, which effectively reduces the risk and investment cost of geothermal resource development. Mine geothermal is different from conventional shallow geothermal and medium and deep hydrothermal heat, and also different from oil field geothermal heat, and has its own characteristics, so it is necessary to adopt different geothermal development and utilization technologies. Methods This paper summarizes the distribution characteristics of geothermal resources in coal mines in China by literature review method. On the basis of analyzing the development and utilization methods of mine geothermal resources, this paper proposes a way to transform mine geothermal energy and the heat damage caused by it into effective utilization of geothermal resources, discusses the application of mine geothermal development theory in practical cases, and explores and analyzes the feasibility of various ways of mine geothermal resource development and utilization. Results (1) The utilization methods of mine water geothermal resources are roughly divided into two categories: geothermal recovery closed system and geothermal recovery open system; (2) China's 26 major coal–producing provinces, high–altitude temperature mines are distributed in 13 provinces such as Henan, Jiangsu and Shandong. The thermal reserves of geothermal resources in the main coal–endowed areas are 1.12×10¹⁹ kJ, equivalent to 379.539 billion tons of standard coal, of which 74.66% of the geothermal resources of coal mines are located in North China; (3) Taking Shandong Tangkou Coal Mine as an example, a geothermal resource utilization model was established, and the feasibility of geothermal resource utilization in coal mines in China was discussed. (4) We put forward a variety of mine water geothermal development directions, establish "coal–water–heat" linkage research and intelligent monitoring system, explore the extraction of lithium and other high–value elements from mine water, and use geothermal energy to transform abandoned coal mines into underground farms. Conclusions Carbon reduction is one of the key challenges in addressing climate change. The use of geothermal resources in abandoned coal mines can reduce dependence on traditional fossil fuels, reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, and make a positive contribution to carbon emission reduction goals, but China's mine hydrogeological conditions are complex, and the development and utilization experience of typical mines in foreign countries cannot be copied, and a new mode of geothermal application suitable for abandoned mines in China should be actively explored.