Cobscook Bay Tidal Energy Project
Maine-based Ocean Renewable Power Company's Cobscook Bay Project off Eastport, Maine in the Upper Bay of Fundy
Technology Demonstration Activities
Prototype Testing - ORPC Beta Power System (2010)
In 2010, ORPC tested its prototype 60KW Beta Power System in its Cobscook Bay site over a 7 month period. The System consists of an ORPC Tidal Generator Unit (TGU) turbine deployed below a research vessel, which houses a set of batteries charged by the turbine.
Demonstration-Scale Testing - TidGen®
A one unit ORPC TidGen® Power System was deployed between August 2012 and July 2013 and was interconnected with the Bangor Hydro Electric Company grid. The system underwent performance monitoring until it was retrieved in July 2013 for forensic analysis.
Mooring Trials
In Fall 2014, ORPC completed deployment and testing of a prototype mooring and anchoring system for its OCGen® Power System in its Maine site. This system is designed for use in deep tidal and offshore ocean current sites
Environmental Monitoring
The ORPC project has included the design and implementation of an Environmental Monitoring and Adaptive Management Plan.
The 2012 Environmental Monitoring Program report is available here. With the Project’s Adaptive Management Team, ORPC has evaluated results and made appropriate modifications to ongoing data collection. Monitoring efforts continued into 2013.
The environmental monitoring program includes:
- Acoustic Monitoring
- Benthic surveys
- Fish Monitoring & Acoustic Technology Testing
- Hydraulic Monitoring
- Marine Mammal observation study
- Sea/Shorebird Surveys
