Nova Scotia examines dry ports to support tidal energy

 
The Offshore Energy Research Association (OERA) has launched a request for proposals for a study into the viability of using dry ports to support tidal energy developments in Nova Scotia.

Commissioned by the Nova Scotia Department of Energy, the study will investigate the feasibility and economic implications of using Hantsport and Parrsboro dry ports to service the tidal industry in Nova Scotia, particularly during the operations and maintenance (O&M) phase.

As the developers are not used to mobilizing from dry ports, the study will also look to demonstrate the possibilities and opportunities regarding assembly, deployment, O&M, monitoring and retrieval.

The project is expected to describe the activities that the developers themselves could undertake from nearby dry ports; describe the economic and risk to project advantages offered by dry ports; and identify the infrastructure upgrades that might be needed for future consideration by the province.

“Hantsport and Parrsboro, although dry, are both much closer to Minas Passage than the nearest wet ports, and this proximity may provide significant cost savings (and lower risk) to offset operational difficulties and infrastructure shortcomings associated with dry ports.

“What remains to be investigated is whether tidal energy developers can see the economic advantages of overcoming the technical deficiencies of operating from a dry port in closer proximity to their deployment sites,” OERA said in the request for proposals.

The proposals for the project are due by January 26, with the completion date for the project set for June 30, 2018.