NS: Tidal project forges ahead with new infrastructure

FORCE Tidal Energy Centre showcases Bay of Fundy tidal power, Minas Passage turbines, subsea cables, and renewable energy research with interactive exhibits, videos, and a theatre overlooking the demonstration site in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia continues to be a world leader in tidal energy with the completion of a new $1.3-million visitor centre and the arrival of the subsea power cables required to deliver electricity from the Bay of Fundy to Nova Scotia homes and businesses.

The Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy FORCE officially opened the 3,000 square-foot visitor centre in Parrsboro on Monday. The facility, which overlooks the tidal turbine demonstration project in the Minas Passage, offers visitors information, videos and interactive displays related to tidal energy and the Bay of Fundy.

FORCE has also received all 11 kilometres of subsea cables which, when connected, will give the centre the largest transmission capacity for tidal power in the world — a total capacity of 64 megawatts or roughly equivalent to the power needs of 20,000 homes at peak tidal flows.

"From shipbuilding to marine sciences to tidal energy, Nova Scotia is becoming known the world over as a centre of marine excellence," said Premier Darrell Dexter. "The momentum around tidal energy continues to build with the arrival of the subsea cables that will connect the province to the immense tidal power potential in the Bay of Fundy. And now, with this beautiful new visitors centre, the public has a place to watch this industry grow."

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency invested more than $850,000 in the visitor centre, which also includes a small theatre and space for research and meetings. The Offshore Energy Environmental Research OEER Association also contributed funding and research expertise for the centre.

For related grid reliability news, see the power back-up centre story for Nova Scotia customers.

FORCE announced that IT International Telecom, based in Halifax, will conduct a dry run in the Bay of Fundy in the coming weeks to prepare for installation of the cables next year. The first environmental monitoring information is now available online at www.fundyforce.ca.

Canada is also evaluating large-scale projects like the Meaford hydro project on a military base in Ontario.

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