Tidal Energy Resource Assessment Map for Nova Scotia

Geophysics/Hydrodynamics: Karsten, R. (2012)

Report to OEER/OETR. Acadia Tidal Energy Institute, Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Acadia University.

Download: 201.pdf

This report presents an update on the extractable power potential of tidal currents in a number of passages around Nova Scotia. Since initial reports by EPRI [1] and the Triton [2] were produced, we have gained a better understanding of how the extraction of power from tidal currents affect the tidal system. This report uses numerical simulations and theoretical calculations to predict not only the power that can be extracted but also the resulting reduction in flow through the passage. As such, it gives power estimates along with a first measure of the environmental impact of extracting tidal energy from the system. In particular, the new power estimates are considerably higher for two passages, Minas Channel and Digby Gut, while the estimates for other passages are similar to previous results. Overall, we estimate potential power extraction of 2000 MW in the Minas Channel, 50 to 100 MW in the Digby Neck region and 1 to 2 MW in Cape Breton.

Keywords: resource assessment, Bay of Fundy, Cape Breton