Canadian govt charts path for sustainable tidal energy development

The Government of Canada has released the Tidal Energy Task Force’s final report to clarify regulatory requirements for tidal energy projects in the Bay of Fundy with the aim of defining the path for growth of the industry. 

The Government of Canada noted it was working with the province of Nova Scotia, indigenous communities and industry to support the development of clean technology and energy projects, including tidal projects in the Bay of Fundy.

The report, released on February 28, stems from the work of the Tidal Energy Task Force, led by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Natural Resources Canada, with members from the Nova Scotia government, industry, and research organizations, and input from indigenous groups and stakeholders.

“The Government of Canada recognizes that tidal energy can have an important role to play in our clean energy future and welcomes the Tidal Energy Task Force’s Final Report. The Task Force’s recommendations provide a strong path forward to support sustainable tidal energy development in Canada, and we are hitting the ground running to implement them. In so doing, we will ensure that tidal energy is developed and deployed in Canada in a manner that meets Canadians’ environmental and economic ambitions,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.

The report has identified four key issues that are critical to the tidal energy sector in the Bay of Fundy, including the administration of the Fisheries Act authorization process, environmental risk assessment and monitoring standards, international data and research on environmental impacts, and climate change and economic benefits in decision-making.

As a result of the Task Force, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has revised its staged approach for authorizations for tidal energy projects in the Bay of Fundy to better account for how these projects are designed and deployed. Under this revised approach, the department will offer a single, conditional Fisheries Act Authorization and Species at Risk Act permit for the full 15-year lifecycle of a tidal energy project. This will provide assurance that, if no adverse effects are observed, additional devices could be deployed as long as continued monitoring shows there are no adverse effects to fish.

In addition and in response to the Task Force’s findings, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $300,000 from Natural Resources Canada to strengthen risk assessment and monitoring efforts in the Bay of Fundy. To oversee these efforts, the Task Force convened a working group, co-chaired by FORCE and Acadia University which will specifically assess the effectiveness of monitoring technologies in the Minas passage and develop tools, approaches and best practices expected to help reduce barriers to environmental effects monitoring and more effectively assess risks in order to strengthen Canada’s tidal stream energy industry in the Bay of Fundy.

The Task Force on Sustainable Tidal Energy in the Bay of Fundy was established in June 2023 to explore issues and opportunities associated with the deployment of tidal energy projects in the Bay of Fundy. An interim report was published in September.

According to the Canadian government, the development and expansion of renewable energy can be key to advancing the country’s climate objectives, and the powerful tides of the Bay of Fundy on the east coast provide an excellent opportunity to source renewable energy.

Marine Renewables Canada welcomed the launch of the report, stating that the outcomes of the Tidal Task Force are a positive step forward for the tidal industry in Canada: “Progress has been made towards establishing a viable and predictable regulatory path for projects,” said Elisa Obermann, the company’s Executive Director.

“However, the work is not over – efficient and effective implementation of the Task Force recommendations in close collaboration with industry is required and is critical to the overall success of this work and the advancement of the tidal sector. We look forward to continuing our collaborative relationship with Task Force members on next steps and implementation.” 

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“Progress has been made towards establishing a viable and predictable regulatory path for projects,” said Elisa Obermann, Executive Director of Marine Renewables Canada. “However, the work is not over – efficient and effective implementation of the Task Force recommendations in close collaboration with industry is required and is critical to the overall success of this work and the advancement of the tidal sector. We look forward to continuing our collaborative relationship with Task Force members on next steps and implementation.”