Scots Bay tidal project unlikely to proceed, report says

The final report on proposed tidal barrage development in Scots Bay concludes that the project is unlikely to proceed.

Halcyon Tidal Power, the developer behind Scots Bay tidal project, proposes the building of the tidal barrage at Scots Bay, that would host bidirectional tidal turbines with the combined capacity of 1100 MW.

The latest report about the project provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state and prospective future of the Halcyon Tidal Power barrage proposal in Scots Bay, Nova Scotia.

Dimensions discussed in this report include the socio-political perspectives, biophysical impacts, and cross-jurisdictional implications with regards to law, policy, and permitting at both provincial and federal levels.

The report has identified three main areas of concern with the proposed Halcyon tidal power plant project, and offered recommendations for the project developer, Halcyon Tidal Power. The main areas of concern include:

• the lack of an identified customer for the electricity,
• strong opposition from community members,
• Nova Scotia’s focus on in-stream tidal development.

The recommendations outlined in the report state that if the conditions of the site are thoroughly assessed, it may be possible for Halcyon to reduce the negative externalities to the point at which the benefits of the clean energy generated outweigh the costs. The recommendations are summarized as follows:

1. Require analysis to be completed on the flow of water through an accurate model of the design with resulting impacts on water quality parameters,
2. Investigate baseline sedimentation within the bay, model flows of water, anticipate future barrage impacts, and monitor,
3. Test turbines for damage and mortality rates towards marine life,
4. Species inventory studies, including temporal studies in and around Scots Bay,
5. Establish an ongoing database of knowledge about local and migratory species at risk, mitigative measures,
6. Complete acoustic disruption studies, construction and long-term,
7. Estimate the carbon payback period for the barrage.

The report concludes that important aspects of the project have not been established in a manner that would satisfy the requirements to obtain a Letter of Authority from the Province of Nova Scotia to proceed to the environmental assessment phase.

The main issues are the lack of market identification, strong opposition from community members, and Nova Scotia’s focus on in-stream tidal energy development. Due to these concerns, it is predicted that this project will not proceed.

Halcyon has received a letter from the Nova Scotia Department of Energy and Natural Resources outlining the process for procuring a Letter of Authority or marine license for its proposed Scots Bay tidal project, but the company has refrained from submitting a formal application until Provincial Legislation on renewable energy is released and fully reviewed.

On April 30, Government of Nova Scotia has introduced a legislation that will regulate the development of marine renewable energy projects.

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Image: Halcyon Tidal Power