Open air sea pool to be heated by geothermal vein

Penzance’s open air sea pool, the Jubilee Pool, is due to open its eagerly-anticipated heated section at the end of May 2019, it has been revealed.

And the pool is going to be even hotter than first expected.

Geothermal Engineering Ltd (GEL), the company which has been drilling holes into the earth below Jubilee Pool to tap into the earth’s natural heat, said it found a warm water “geothermal vein” 410 metres deep into the rock. The hot water will now be tapped up to heat a section of Jubilee Pool all year round.

GEL managing director Ryan Law said hitting the warmer than expected hot water vein was like “striking gold”.

Previously he said: “We are delighted that we have hit the hot water vein. It is warmer than expected and capable of yielding much more geo- thermal energy than planned. “We can now work with the Jubilee Pool team to deliver an amazing, sustainable facility for local residents and tourists alike.”

Initially it was reported that the pool would be open in Easter 2019.

The anticipated opening date has now been set.

Speaking to Radio 4’s Peter Gibbs, Jubilee Pool Director Susan Stuart said it was hoped the heated pool would officially open to the public by May 26 – the first weekend of the summer half term holiday.

Explaining how the project initially came about, she told the programme: “We thought we have got to be financially sustainable, and being open all year round is obvious, but people can’t get a swim in freezing cold water in enough numbers to make it financially viable so heating it was the obvious solution.”

‘We are delighted we have hit the hot water vein’