EU tidal energy expertise arrives in Canada
European offshore renewables expertise is being used in Canada with the successful installation of the PLAT-I floating tidal energy platform in Nova Scotia.
The PLAT-I tidal energy system, developed by Sustainable Marine Energy, and equipped with four Schottel Hydro SIT250 tidal turbines, was installed in Grand Passage and will be operated by Black Rock Tidal Power Inc.
The platform was installed by Huntley’s Sub-Aqua Construction, using the Kipawo, a 65’ self-propelled barge.
EU expertise
The Canadian government is clearly throwing its weight behind tidal energy.
Recently, the Canadian Minister of Natural Resources Amarjeet Sohi announced a CA$29.7M grant to the 9MW tidal energy project by DP Energy, also in Nova Scotia.
“This landmark project is great news for the tidal sector and will bring the technology one step closer to commercialisation,” said Ocean Energy Europe’s CEO, Rémi Gruet.
Meanwhile, a substantial grant of CA$29,750,000 under the Emerging Renewable Power Program (ERPP) from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is set to trigger the next wave of tidal energy development at the FORCE facility in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia.
Irish based renewable energy developer DP Energy is managing two berths in the Bay of Fundy through its Canadian registered company, Halagonia Tidal Energy Limited.
It intends to develop both berths together as a single project which plans to incorporate five Andritz Hydro Mk1 1.5MW sea-bed mounted tidal turbines and a single SR2-2000 floating turbine by Scotrenewables Tidal Power Limited.
At 9MW this will make it the largest tidal stream array to be deployed anywhere in the world.
By Anne-Marie Causer
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