Tidal technology group, OpenHydro, a DCNS company,
and its Canadian partner Emera Inc. 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), which
is taking place 4-6th November in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The objective of Cape Sharp Tidal is
to deploy a fully grid connected 4MW tidal array in the Bay of Fundy in
2015. This project has the potential to be one of the world’s first multi-megawatt
arrays of interconnected tidal turbines, providing energy to over 1,000
customers in Nova Scotia. Cape Sharp Tidal employs a local team
of ten people based in Dartmouth, 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. “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
said, “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 the potential 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, “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 of OpenHydro Technology Canada.
“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 over 75,000 customers and leveraging
that experience to create an industry.