Nova Scotia Power has deployed the world’s first commercial size, in-stream tidal turbine in an attempt to harness the power of the most predictable renewable resource in the province – the tides of the Bay of Fundy. NS Power is one of three companies planning to explore tidal power as part of the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE). NS Power’s technology partner is OpenHydro of Ireland. The turbine’s steel base was built by Dartmouth’s Cherubini Metal Works. "It’s exciting to have reached this point in the turbine’s development,” said Rob Bennett, President and CEO of Nova Scotia Power. “Nova Scotia Power has been harnessing the power of the Bay of Fundy since the 1980s, and we’re looking forward to the results and the potential of this emerging technology as part of our overall shift to more renewable energy in Nova Scotia.” After months of preparation, the 16 metre turbine and its 400 tonne subsea base were successfully deployed on November 12 off the coast of Black Rock, near Parrsboro. Now on the ocean floor, gravity will keep the turbine in place 10 to 20 meters below the ocean’s surface. Even at low tide, the turbine will not be seen. The turbine has the ability to produce one megawatt of energy, enough to power several hundred homes. It will turn with the tides, spinning in one direction at high tide and the other at low tide. In order to help NS Power and OpenHydro understand the turbine’s effects on the environment and how it will operate in the punishing conditions of the Bay of Fundy, the turbine must go through a series of tests for the next two years. "We believe the Bay of Fundy holds huge potential as a source of clean renewable energy and we look forward to beginning the detailed turbine and environmental monitoring program,” said James Ives, CEO of OpenHydro. The turbine has several features intended to minimize environmental impact. The turbine’s open centre is large enough for sea life to pass through and turns at a very slow rate. It is also lubricated by water, eliminating the risk of releasing oil or grease to the sea. As the tidal industry continues to grow, there is great potential for further economic spin-offs in Nova Scotia. The Cherubini contract shows that Nova Scotian companies have the capability to be a part of the manufacture of this technology in the future. To learn more about the tidal turbine its deployment, visit www.nspower.ca/tidal. |