OpenHydro, a DCNS company, and its Canadian partner Emera Inc. have formally launched a new joint venture business, called Cape Sharp Tidal. The objective of the new venture is to deploy a fully grid connected 4MW tidal array in the Bay of Fundy in 2015.
According to the partners, this project has the potential to be one of the world’s first multi-megawatt arrays of interconnected tidal turbines, providing energy to more than 1,000 customers in Nova Scotia.
“I’m delighted that OpenHydro is partnering with Emera on the creation of this exciting energy initiative,” said Thierry Kalanquin, Chairman of OpenHydro and senior vice president of Energies & Marine Infrastructure at DCNS, during the fifth International Conference on Ocean Energy earlier this week in Halifax, Nova Scotia. “Cape Sharp Tidal has the potential in 2015 to deliver one of the first, multi MW, multi turbine tidal arrays in the world.”
Chris Huskilson, president and CEO of Emera, also expressed his optimism about the project, adding:
“We learned a lot from our inaugural tidal deployment in the Bay of Fundy back in 2009, and we’re looking forward to taking this next step. The incredible force of the Bay of Fundy gives us thepotential to build a tidal industry here in Nova Scotia, and to take Nova Scotia experience and knowledge around the globe.”
The turbines being deployed in the Bay of Fundy are the latest evolution of OpenHydro’s 16m, 2MW Open-Centre Turbines. They will be built locally in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, in partnership with Irving Shipbuilding.
“We’re pleased to be working with Emera and OpenHydro in the highly promising field of tidal energy,” said Kevin McCoy, Irving Shipbuilding president. "We are now in the preparation stage, working closely with OpenHydro to firm up the plans for fabrication and mobilization. We hope to be able to announce these shortly."
The Cape Sharp Tidal partners, OpenHydro and Emera, have ambitious future plans for tidal energy in Nova Scotia. The project will move forward in phases, subject to required approvals, with the ultimate goal of developing up to a 300MW commercial tidal array delivering clean, renewable energy to more than 75,000 customers and leveraging that experience to create an industry.