Canadian-Scottish partnership adds 2 tidal energy sites to the Bay of Fundy

CITYnews halifax / By Natasha O’Neill

The partnership behind a site in the Bay of Fundy studying and procuring tidal energy is adding two more projects, the province said.

According to a press release from Nova Scotia, Eauclaire Tidal Limited Partnership, a combination of Canadian and Scottish companies, is adding two more berths at the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE). Berths are sites within the bay that allow people to test tidal energy technology.

Eauclaire and Orbital Marine Power partnered to obtain a berth in Minas Passage, and the partnership will be adding two more, allowing the companies to pursue a total of 16.5 megawatts (MW) of tidal energy.

“We want tidal energy to be part of Nova Scotia’s clean energy future,” said Premier Tim Houston in the press release. “I’m pleased to see Eauclaire investing further in Nova Scotia and in the belief that we can harness the tremendous natural resource we have in the Bay of Fundy. The work of this company and others in the tidal sector is creating jobs and attracting investment to our province, and that benefits all Nova Scotians.”

With the added sites, the partnership will receive tidal energy licences and power purchase agreements with Nova Scotia Power. The added investments into the projects are said to create jobs in the region, according to the province.

Related:

• Procurement to open soon for new tidal energy projects in Bay of Fundy
• N.S. introduces bill to allow local use of offshore energy
• Latest failure: firm bidding to produce power from Fundy tides files for bankruptcy

“Our partnership will deliver reliable, emissions-free electricity to the Nova Scotia power grid from the Bay of Fundy, which is known to be one of the best tidal energy resources in the world,” Jane Lowrie, Eauclaire Tidal Limited Partnership, said in the press release. “We look forward to working with our First Nation partners and local communities to build a strong tidal power industrial base that will create specialized, permanent employment opportunities right here in Nova Scotia.”

What is tidal energy?

The emerging technology uses underwater turbines to capture energy from the natural flow of water, similar to wind turbines. The Bay of Fundy is a “world-class” resource, pushing roughly 160 billion tonnes of water every tide cycle. This, according to the province, is equivalent to more than all the freshwater rivers and streams in the world combined.

Some spots in the bay, like Minas Passage, where one of the sites is, have tidal flows that can reach speeds over five metres per second, offering 2,500 megawatts of power potential.

According to experts, there are several benefits of tidal energy, such as how predictable it is because tides follow lunar cycles. Other positives include how the province can source energy locally and, in turn, grow the local economy by increasing jobs.

“Projects like this show that with the right partnerships and policy support, Nova Scotia can continue to lead the way in marine renewable innovation,” Elisa Oberman, Executive Director, Marine Renewables Canada, said.