All FERN News
Researchers differ on readiness for turbine project
An association supporting government and the tidal energy industry released a report on Monday stating that remaining questions about the environmental impact of turbines can be answered by the deployment of the devices, but DFO scientists and a biology professor from Acadia say too many gaps in pre-deployment research still remain.
The report, released by the Offshore Energy Research Association (OERA) and authored by Dr. Graham Daborn of Fundy Environmental & Educational Consultants, states that since 2007, 50 studies on the bay’s marine biology and ecosystem have been conducted with more expected post deployment.
“The story continues, however, now that turbines are to be deployed in Nova Scotia waters for prolonged testing periods, because some of the remaining environmental questions can now be addressed,” said Dr. Daborn, a marine biologist and past director of the Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research at Acadia University.
OPINION: Fishers want more studies before tidal turbines tested
The Upper Bay of Fundy is an important spawning, nursery and feeding ground for many fish, mammals, and invertebrate species. They include species-at-risk, such as white shark, striped bass, sturgeon and inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic salmon, among others.
Ocean Sonic brings new hydrophones to global market
Beautiful, powerful and rich with undiscovered potential, the Atlantic Ocean has long been a place where Nova Scotians make memories and livelihoods.
More recently, however, it’s led us to compete, export and innovate on a global scale. Home to more than 450 PhDs, 200 companies and 60,000 employees in ocean-related industries, Nova Scotia is recognized as a world leader.
In Great Village, 26 kilometres outside Truro, Ocean Sonic is one of a growing list of ocean-related success stories. By inventing a new class of hydrophones, they export first-class products all over the world.
OPINION: Tidal-power development is already a breakthrough
In a few weeks, Nova Scotia will welcome the first demonstration turbine to the most advanced grid-connected, in-stream tidal array site in the world.
Over the summer, two turbines will be deployed off the shores of Parrsboro in the Bay of Fundy, where tidal changes are recorded as the highest in the world. The project demonstrates Nova Scotia’s commitment to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and provide a significant contribution to cutting GHG emissions and meeting Canada’s climate-change targets.
Nova Scotia set to welcome tidal-power turbines
Two gigantic turbines will soon be immersed in the powerful tides of the Bay of Fundy where, if all goes well, they will begin generating electricity for the Nova Scotia power grid later this summer.
Next weekend, the first of two 16-metre-diameter turbines that look like components from oversized jet engines will begin a two-week journey by barge from a shipyard in Pictou – on the north side of Nova Scotia facing Prince Edward Island. It must travel around Cape Breton Island because it is too big to go through the Strait of Canso, the channel that lies between Cape Breton and the mainland. Essentially, it will have to circumnavigate the province to reach the Bay of Fundy.
At the entrance to the Minas Basin, near the town of Parrsboro, it will be submerged into a waiting “berth” at the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE), the site that was established to test large-scale in-stream tidal turbines and connect them to the power grid.