Tidal power
Tidal power turbine undergoing testing in Pictou Harbour
Department of Environment gives go-ahead on tidal monitoring program; turbine undergoing testing in Pictou Harbour
Cape Sharp Tidal, the group having tidal power turbines built to generate electricity in the Bay of Fundy, is happy with the provincial government’s approval of a monitoring program.
Sarah Dawson, a spokesperson for Cape Sharp Tidal, said the company is pleased the final step is now complete, however she points out that the decision to delay deployment of the turbines is unrelated.
The first turbine was originally scheduled to leave Aecon Atlantic in Pictou – where they were constructed – during the first week of June, but some fishermen and scientists expressed worry about the impact the turbines could have on the marine ecosystem in the Bay of Fundy. “The reason for the pause is to ensure we are taking time to engage those who feel their concerns have not been heard.”
Dawson said the approval from Nova Scotia Environment “further acknowledges confidence in adaptive management as the right approach for a demonstration scale project.”
On Monday, the Department of Environment approved the proposed monitoring program for the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE) and Cape Sharp Tidal, a venture between Emera and OpenHydro.
Approval was given after department staff reviewed the Environmental Effects Monitoring Plan and consulted with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Endorsement of the plan allows FORCE to proceed with the initial phase of the demonstration project to deploy two turbines in the Minas Passage for research purposes.
“We are satisfied that the proposed plan, together with the monitoring and study improvements as we have directed, will help address information gaps and improve our understanding of the interaction between the two turbines and marine life in this unique environment,” said Environment Minister Margaret Miller.
“If we are to advance our collective knowledge of the turbines’ impact on our fish and marine mammals, demonstration turbines need to be in the water,” said Miller.
The information collected will help with future decisions, and a new monitoring program must be accepted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Department of Environment before any more turbines can be deployed.
One of the turbines has been going through a series of normal pre-departure activities in Pictou Harbour, which will continue this week.
“We needed to move turbine one out of the way so we could move turbine two onto its base. The plan is for turbine one to be in the water for a couple of days then back on to the marine railway,” said Dawson.
The Scotia Tide barge, which was specially built at Aecon Atlantic in Pictou, will carry the pair of turbines – one at a time – on their two-week journey from Pictou around the province to the Bay of Fundy.
Dawson said a date still hasn’t been set to move the first turbine.