OpenHydro, Emera form Cape Sharp Tidal for Bay of Fundy project

OpenHydro, provider of tidal technology and its Canadian partner Emera have formally launched a new joint venture business, called Cape Sharp Tidal.

The announcement was made at the fifth International Conference on Ocean Energy (ICOE), held from 4-6th November in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The Cape Sharp Tidal will deploy a fully grid connected 4MW tidal array in the Bay of Fundy in 2015.

This project will have the potential to be one of the world’s first multi-megawatt series of interconnected tidal turbines, providing energy to over 1,000 customers in Nova Scotia.

OpenHydro is partnering with Emera on the creation of this exciting energy initiative, said, Thierry Kalanquin, chairman, OpenHydro, senior vice president, Energies & Marine Infrastructure at DCNS.

MJNOV12Renewables-NI-Leases-Barker

The inaugural tidal deployment in the Bay of Fundy back in 2009 was inspiring, initiating the next step. The incredible force of the Bay of Fundy provides the potential to build a tidal industry in Nova Scotia, and to take the experience around the globe, commented, Chris Huskilson, president, CEO, Emera.

These turbines are the latest development of OpenHydro’s 16m, 2MW Open-Centre Turbines, which will be built in Dartmouth in partnership with Irving Shipbuilding.

Cape Sharp Tidal is committed to delivering a project in Nova Scotia, with Nova Scotian partners working together to create a tidal industry in the region, said, Jeremy Poste, country manager, OpenHydro Technology Canada.

The preparation stages of projects are going on with OpenHydro working on strengthening the plans for fabrication and mobilization, said, Kevin McCoy, president, Irving Shipbuilding.

The Cape Sharp Tidal partners, OpenHydro and Emera, have ambitious future plans for tidal energy with the project progressing in phases.

Ultimately, the partnership targets to develop up to a 300MW commercial tidal energy in near future.

Sabeena Wahid

[email protected]