Nova Scotia, UK Partner Up for Tidal Energy Development

Nova Scotia and the United Kingdom will work together to advance tidal research to help the future development of the industry.

A memorandum of understanding between the province, the Offshore Energy Research Association of Nova Scotia and the United Kingdom’s Technology Strategy Board will encourage joint research in order to improve the technology required to generate electricity using high tides like those in the Bay of Fundy.

Energy Minister Andrew Younger, executive director Stephen Dempsey of the Offshore Energy Research Association of Nova Scotia and the acting British Deputy High Commissioner to Canada, Corin Robertson, on behalf of the Technology Strategy Board, announced the agreement on March 4 in Halifax.

“Bringing together tidal energy leaders from Nova Scotia and the U.K. will help advance efforts to harness the power of Fundy tides,” said Mr. Younger. “Collaborating on tidal development will help us save money and increase our research capacity. It will also create opportunities for businesses and researchers in both Nova Scotia and the United Kingdom.”

Offshore Energy Research Association of Nova Scotia and the Technology Strategy Board are contributing $250,000 each towards the initiative. They will oversee the majority of the work associated with the memorandum.

It outlines areas of collaboration including environmental sensing research and instrumentation technologies, to better understand high flow tidal resources and their environment located within the Bay of Fundy, and Orkney, Scotland.

Joint request for proposals will be issued for research projects in both Canada and the U.K. to explore these and other tidal-related topics.

The first request will be issued later this year and will focus on environmental sensing research to better understand and validate devices for tidal development and their impact on the environment.

Both the Offshore Energy Research Association of Nova Scotia and the Technology Strategy Board lead research efforts that enable the sustainable development of energy resources, including marine renewable energy, and bring them closer to market, through strategic partnerships with academia, government and industry.

“The U.K. sees the development of its marine energy resources as an important step towards meeting our renewable energy objectives,” said Mrs. Robertson. “This memorandum will not only advance the state of research in this area, bringing us closer to grid connectivity and commercial production, but will encourage the development of a low carbon industry with great economic potential.

“The U.K. and Canada are global leaders in this space and can work together, leading the world in the development and commercialization of tidal energy.”

“Partnering with our colleagues at the Technology Strategy Board and accessing their network will contribute to the development of new technologies, facilitate the creation of renewable energy companies, and stimulate future exports from our province that will pay dividends for years to come,” said Mr. Dempsey.

Press release, March 5, 2014; Image: fundytidal