Architecture

World's largest geothermal lagoon planned for Canada

World's largest geothermal lagoon planned for Canada
Rendered aerial view of the geoLagon project
Rendered aerial view of the geoLagon project
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Rendered aerial view of the geoLagon project
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Rendered aerial view of the geoLagon project
Render of one of the chalets at geoLagon
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Render of one of the chalets at geoLagon
Waters at the geoLagon will be kept at 39 °C year round
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Waters at the geoLagon will be kept at 39 °C year round
Pavilion at the geoLagon
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Pavilion at the geoLagon
Sustainable energy outfit Akonovia completed a viability study on the geoLagon, mapping out its energy generation and needs across the year
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Sustainable energy outfit Akonovia completed a viability study on the geoLagon, mapping out its energy generation and needs across the year
Rendered view of the completed geoLagon
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Rendered view of the completed geoLagon
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Plans are afoot for a magnificent new open air lagoon in Canada that will be kept at balmy temperatures year round through a “huge Thermos” heating system underneath. Designed to be the largest of its type in the world and blend in with the natural landscape, the geoLagon project also includes hundreds of surrounding chalets to form a village that will be entirely energy self-sufficient.

Modeled on the famous geothermal lagoons of Iceland, the geoLagon is designed as an open-air attraction for visitors to relax and soak up the surroundings. To be built in Charlevoix, Quebec, the lagoon’s waters will span some 12,000 square meters (130,000 sq ft) and be warmed to a pleasant 39 °C (102 °F) all year, offering welcome refuge from the region’s frigid air temperatures that dip well below zero (32 °F) in the winter time.

Waters at the geoLagon will be kept at 39 °C year round
Waters at the geoLagon will be kept at 39 °C year round

Far bigger than Iceland’s spectacular 8,700-sq-m (93,000-sq-ft) Blue Lagoon, the planned geoLagon is set to be come the largest lagoon of its type in the world. It will be heated through an energy ecosystem consisting of geothermal, biomass, photovoltaics and solar heating systems, along with a thermal reservoir beneath the lagoon’s base to store heat.

“This is one of the keys to our recipe,” geoLagon owner and CEO Louis Massicotte told New Atlas. “I have a patent pending on this huge Thermos under our pool.”

Rendered view of the completed geoLagon
Rendered view of the completed geoLagon

Massicotte says that further optimizations and technologies like sewer heat recovery could see the geoLagon village even become an energy provider, but is positive that the project will at the very least be able to sustain itself without drawing power from the grid. This confidence stems from viability study carried out by Canadian sustainable energy outfit Akonovia, which ran the ruler over the project and concluded its demands could be met with these renewable energy sources.

“There is a strong potential that the geoLagon project will produce more energy than it consumes, which brings the opportunity to provide surplus electricity to the surrounding community,” Massicotte told us.

Sustainable energy outfit Akonovia completed a viability study on the geoLagon, mapping out its energy generation and needs across the year
Sustainable energy outfit Akonovia completed a viability study on the geoLagon, mapping out its energy generation and needs across the year

Clusters of chalets will surround the lagoon once the project is completed, capturing solar energy with photovoltaic cladding to help run the heat pumps for the water. These cottages can be made into short-term, Airbnb-style rentals, and according to Massicotte, 80 percent of them have been pre-sold to investors already.

While envisioned as a tourist attraction in its own right, the geoLagon will be built around 45 minutes from Quebec City, with ready access to art galleries, golf, ski resorts, farm-to-table dining and whale-watching experiences. So, while visitors will have ample water to float around in, they’ll have plenty more activities nearby should the mood strike.

Render of one of the chalets at geoLagon
Render of one of the chalets at geoLagon

The project is planned in three stages, beginning with the construction of 150 solar-powered cottages, followed by the lagoon as the second stage and then the remaining 150 chalets thereafter. All going well, Massicotte is planning a further three geoLagon projects for Quebec, in Laurentides, Lanaudière and in the Eastern Townships. He says that construction is expected to get underway in Charlevoix in March, and should take around 18 months.

Source: geoLagon

View gallery - 6 images
14 comments
14 comments
Captain Danger
Few comments / observations
1) Looks like he has done his homework, but .2% leeway does not seem like much.
2) I am not sure what Biomass is, burning garbage , grass cutting etc?
3) interesting to see that the solar is less in June / July / Aug than March / April. May June July should have longer periods of daylight , but this may be offset by other factors such as external temperature.
4) I would have thought that Geothermal would have been a stable number and not fluctuate.
5) I would be interested to know how much is will cost to maintain the system before I invested. It sounds like he is developing acompletex and owners will most likely be on the hook for maintenance fees.
mark34
So are they cutting and burning the local forests to meet the biomass inputs? Also, the bargraph seems to indicate a much larger biomass dependency than the table values indicate.
Drew Edwerds
So here's how it works in the money-belt of Quebec,,,
1.. make claim about wonderful idea/engineering project
2. EPICALLY inflate construction costs of project AFTER project has begun and too much resources ( financial/ material / political) have been committed.
3. Stomp feet, throw tantrum, and DEMAND that federal gov bail out the project... or else!!!

See Montreal Olympic Stadium debt payment timeline OR look into Montreal city corruption probes for contracts,, OR look into the destruction of vast lands of Cree Nation to build James Bay Hydro project ( and the other "dam in the middle of nowhere").

The probability that this project is viable or even legitimate is negligible.
The probability that this project will receive vast sums of resources from their provincial and our federal governments is significant.

Look to Europe, China, or anywhere else for efforts towards legit environmental projects.

Captain Obvious
That's going to waste a LOT of energy in the winter.
Bob Flint
Does the calculation assume 15 degrees C incoming water, or once attained to maintain? Doing this in winter would take 3 days to heat that amount of water with 5000Mw

Also how was the seasonal cooling loss calculated based on average rain, snow, wind & cloud vs, sun exposure?

The February energy requirement seems way off, I live in Quebec, one of the coldest months.

What we don't see is the massive thermal heat sink under the pond, & the biomass system.
Brian M
"and be warmed to a pleasant 39 °C (102 °F) "

That seems to be a very uncomfortable temperature - closer to a heat wave with health warnings, at least here in the UK!
Aross
The other thing not mentioned is what pristine natural area of the province is going to be destroyed to build this pipe dream to cater to the rich and famous.
Brant
I'm not sure why they are touring their renewable energy use. Hydro Quebec generates 94% of its energy from hydroelectric. 100% carbon free. Why burn biomass? BTW there is no geothermal in the area. They are just going to use the thermal mass of the water as storage.
RR
It would be awesome if geolagoon could do a twining project here in Saskatchewan.
TpPa
what a waste of money & resources, use it to light peoples house or charge bloody electric cars, or sell it to the USA
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