Canada bolsters Nova Scotia tidal energy research

 
The government of Canada has invested $1 million in a project which aims to address knowledge gaps and challenges associated with tidal energy in Canada.

The overarching research objective of the project is to address critical issues common to different tidal energy conversion technologies, which is expected to reduce uncertainty and investment risk and lower the cost of tidal electricity in Canada.

Stephen Dempsey, Executive Director at OERA, said: “Understanding the challenges of creating a clean and renewable source of energy from the world’s highest tides has been the focus of Nova Scotia’s research community for many decades. The answers to fundamental questions around environmental impacts, how to reduce costs for technology and marine operations are critical to our collective success.

“By working collaboratively with academia, company and government partners we ensure the highest prospects for success, both here in the Bay of Fundy and ultimately in projects developed around the world with what we have learned.”

The project, led by the Offshore Energy Research Association of Nova Scotia (OERA), received the funding from Natural Resources Canada’s Energy Innovation Program.

The funding announcement was made by Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr on June 22, 2017, during his visit to the Bedford Institute of Oceanography.

The Province of Nova Scotia and OERA have each contributed $125,000 to the project, according to the Canadian government.

OERA is an independent, non-profit organization that funds and facilitates collaborative offshore energy and environmental research and development including the examination of renewable energy resources and their interaction with the marine environment.