All FERN News

Gaspereau River fishermen concerned about tidal turbines

Some fishermen along the Gaspereau River are concerned how tidal turbines could affect a local fishery.

There are 14 active square net licences in the Gaspereau and Melanson area issued by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Those fishermen catch Gaspereau, a species of herring, when they swim up the river from the Bay of Fundy in April and May.

On Monday night at the Gaspereau Community Hall, people in the area had their chance to speak to FORCE (Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy), the organization behind the tidal turbine project.

Fundy fishermen seek review of FORCE tidal approval

The Bay of Fundy Inshore Fishermen’s Association has asked the Nova Scotia supreme court to overturn a decision by the minister of environment approving a monitoring program for tidal energy turbines deployed in the Bay of Fundy’s Minas Passage.

Named in Friday’s application are the Minister of Environment, the Attorney General, Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy Ltd. (FORCE) and Cape Sharp Tidal Venture Ltd.

The group asked the court to set aside or throw out the decision approving the monitoring program on the grounds that a number of environmental safeguards were disregarded or overlooked, including the Species at Risk Act

Tribute Resources Inc. Announces Acquisition of Tidal Power Development Project at FORCE

Tribute Resources Inc. (TSX-V: TRB) (“Tribute”), is pleased to announce the acquisition of an interest in a contracted development stage tidal energy project in Nova Scotia. The Minas Project will be developed and owned by the Minas Tidal Limited Partnership (the “Minas LP”). The Minas LP acquired Berth A in the Fundy Ocean Resource Center for Energy (FORCE) in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia from Minas Basin Pulp and Power. The Minas LP is owned jointly by Tocardo Canada, a subsidiary of Tocardo International BV and International Marine Energy (“IME”), a corporation owned 50% by Tribute. The Tocardo technology will be tested at the site in late 2017 with full deployment expected in 2018. Tocardo has been developing and deploying its tidal turbines in rivers and ocean environments for over a decade.

Halifax firm to test floating turbine in Bay of Fundy next year

It’s home to the highest tides in the world and soon, the Minas Passage will also be the test site for a new type of tidal turbine that could transform the race to create renewable energy in Nova Scotia.

The Dutch-based marine turbine supplier says they have the proven technology that can correctly harness energy in the Bay of Fundy. The Tocardo technology consists of four 250 kilowatt bi-directional open rotor turbine generators which are attached to a floating platform.

Nova Scotia Attracts Tidal Energy Players

Minas Energy said it has entered into a partnership with International Marine Energy Inc (IME) and Tocardo International BV, using Tocardo’s tidal turbines. The new collaboration, Minas Tidal Limited Partnership (MTLP), intends to test Netherland-based Tocardo technology at the Fundy Ocean Resource Centre for Energy (FORCE) in the Minas Passage. In-water testing is anticipated in late 2017.

“We are looking forward to demonstrating Tocardo’s capabilities in North America and hope to make Nova Scotia the centre of our future manufacturing operations,” said Hans Van Breugel, President of Tocardo.