Cape Sharp Tidal Generates Canada’s First In-Stream Tidal Energy

November 25, 2016

Nova Scotia homes and businesses are now powered by North America’s first in-stream tidal turbine.

Cape Sharp Tidal, a partnership between Emera and OpenHydro/DCNS, deployed a 2MW open-centre turbine last month at the Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE) test site near Parrsboro, NS.

The turbine is now producing Canada’s first in-stream tidal energy (shown in photo: the turbine in a deployment barge).

This milestone marks a turning point for Canada’s renewable energy sector. It is the first time clean, renewable in-stream tidal power has successfully been generated from the Bay of Fundy, and the first time a turbine has been grid-connected at the research centre.

The demonstration turbine — designed and manufactured by OpenHydro — uses a fraction of the estimated 7,000 MW potential of the Minas Passage to power the equivalent of about 500 Nova Scotia homes with tidal energy. A second turbine, planned for deployment in 2017, will make Cape Sharp Tidal one of the largest generating arrays in the world.

The completed 4MW demonstration project will displace the need to burn about 2,000 tonnes of coal, and eliminate 6,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) C02 emissions — the equivalent of taking 1,000 cars off the road each year. This achievement contributes to Nova Scotia’s over-achievement on national GHG reduction goals. Nova Scotia expects to reach between 43% and 46% reductions from 2005 by 2030.

FORCE has invested $30 million in onshore and offshore electrical infrastructure to allow demonstration turbines to connect to the power grid. In total, more than 125 organizations contributed to the creation of the FORCE facility and its research and monitoring programs. More than 90% of these are from Nova Scotia.

Cape Sharp Tidal has invested tens of millions of dollars to develop the local tidal industry and supply chain. More than 300 people have been employed on the project in areas such as fabrication, environmental monitoring, engineering, health and safety, marine services and more.