Solar heating is nothing new in the swimming pool arena, but one city has ramped-up its renewable recreational warming repertoire – looking at a geothermal system to keep the pool warm for the next few thousand years.

A test bore has been sunk to assess the plan to heat the water at the Fremantle Leisure Centre using the incredible geothermic energy of planet Earth. The project plans will include a cogeneration facility – capable of heating the water and generating electricity from the same underground input.

Early results have found the geothermal supply is even hotter than expected, with the council approving plans to tap subterranean heat for a cheap, efficient and low-impact pool-warmer.

“We’re very pleased with the results of the bore, which surpassed our expectations in terms of water temperature and therefore in the amount of geothermal heat energy recoverable,” said City of Fremantle Technical Services Director, Peter Pikor.

“The project is progressing on schedule and the completion of the bore now means we can move into more detailed design work and construction of other aspects of the cogeneration system,” Mr Pikor said.

“Once the geothermal and cogeneration system is fully operational, heated water from the bore will be pumped through the leisure centre’s heat pumps to warm the centre’s two larger pools, with the cool water then re-injected back into the aquifer via a separate injection bore,” a council statement said.