Deployment
NS Power and OpenHydro successfully deployed the world’s first commercial sized in-stream tidal turbine in the Bay of Fundy on November 12, 2009 at 1:47 pm. The turbine arrived in Parrsboro, three kilometers off the coast of Black Rock, the day before.
On-site crews had only a short window for deployment that was timed to coincide with the in and out flow of the tides. When the tide was right, the turbine was lowered from the specially-built OpenHydro Installer barge onto the sea floor by cables which were later released by a hydraulic system, avoiding the need for divers. The turbine and its 400-tonne subsea gravity base took roughly ten minutes to lower to the seabed, marking a successful completion to an event that had been planned for several months.
Now deployed, the turbine will be tested for up to two years. Data will be collected from a series of sensors attached to the turbine with the intention of helping to determine the future feasibility of creating electricity from the tides of the Bay of Fundy. The testing will also focus on the robustness of the turbine in the harsh environment of the Bay of Fundy, closely monitoring any environmental impacts of the turbine and the energy production capabilities of the technology.
Project History
NS Power has been harnessing the power of the tides of the Bay of Fundy since 1984. In 2007, NS Power selected OpenHydro as its technology partner after researching in-stream tidal technology options worldwide.
Design and fabrication of the turbine began in Ireland in 2008 and was completed in August 2009. Through a competitive tender process, Cherubini Metal Works of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, was awarded a $1.7 million dollar contract to fabricate a 400-tonne subsea gravity base for the turbine.
On September 7, 2009 the turbine arrived in Halifax Harbour. Final commissioning and assembly took place over the following months.
In October, sea trials took place in the Bedford Basin. The turbine was towed through the basin at speeds of three knots. The successful test was designed to ensure that the turbine would properly rotate and that the sensors collected data.
In early November, the turbine began its seven-day journey to the Minas Passage in the Bay of Fundy for deployment.
The turbine is now rotating with the tides in the Bay of Fundy. On June 11, 2010, NS Power and OpenHydro announced they would soon look to raise the turbine to conduct an engineering analysis. | | 
The turbine's installation barge being towed after successfully deploying the turbine on November 12, 2009
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