DCNS company OpenHydro and its Canadian partner Emera Inc. have formally launched Cape Sharp Tidal, a new joint venture business to deliver tidal energy projects in the Bay of Fundy.
Announced at the fifth International Conference on Ocean Energy (ICOE), the new business aims to deploy a fully grid connected 4MW tidal array in the Bay of Fundy in 2015. Cape Sharp Tidal employs a local team of ten people based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
“I’m delighted that OpenHydro is partnering with Emera on the creation of this exciting energy initiative," said Thierry Kalanquin, Chairman of OpenHydro and Senior Vice President of Energies & Marine Infrastructure at DCNS. "Cape Sharp Tidal has the potential in 2015 to deliver one of the first, multi MW, multi turbine tidal arrays in the world."
“We learned a lot from our inaugural tidal deployment in the Bay of Fundy back in 2009, and we’re looking forward to taking this next step," added Chris Huskilson, President and CEO of Emera. "The incredible force of the Bay of Fundy gives us the potential to build a tidal industry here in Nova Scotia, and to take Nova Scotia experience and knowledge around the globe."
The turbines being deployed in the Bay of Fundy are the latest evolution of OpenHydro’s 16m, 2MW Open-Centre Turbines. They will be built locally in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia in partnership with Irving Shipbuilding.
Image: OpenHydro turbine