Researchers studying the environmental effects of tidal turbines in Nova Scotia's Bay of Fundy are trying to answer one of the most important questions facing the technology: will fish and marine life in the Minas Passage steer clear of the turbines?
Nova Scotia is now officially generating tidal energy after the first tidal turbine in North America was successfully connected to the power grid Tuesday.
The 1,000-tonne turbine, which is part of the Cape Sharp Tidal project to harness the immense power of the Bay of Fundy, is now powering 500 homes in Nova Scotia.
“We are ushering a new era in marine renewable energy and taking an unprecedented step toward a lower carbon future,” Energy Minister Michel Samson said.
WESTPORT – Tidal energy researchers want to experiment with pumpkins for mapping the flow of the tides in Grand Passage.
Greg Trowse of Luna Ocean Consulting has already done a lot of preliminary work from his kayak on trips around Brier and Long Islands and other parts of southwest Nova Scotia, launching and tracking special drifters he developed for this work.
Recently Trowse and Reid Gillis, a Freeport fisherman and former whale watch operator have launching and tracking more drifters from Reid’s rigid inflatable boat.
Now Trowse wants to hold a pumpkin race with the whole community to see if he can use pumpkins for mapping ocean currents. Drones will take aerial images of the bright orange globes which will allow researchers to see how exactly the tides move in the passage.
DIGBY – Two different tidal developers are holding two separate information meetings in Digby County this week. Spray Tidal is holding a public meeting Wednesday evening, Nov. 16 in Tiverton to discuss their project in Petit Passage. Black Rock Tidal power is holding an open house in Digby Thursday evening, Nov. 17 to discuss their project in the Minas Passage.
Greg Trowse of Luna Ocean Consulting has already done a lot of preliminary work from his kayak on trips around Brier and Long Islands and other parts of southwest Nova Scotia, launching and tracking special drifters he developed for this work.