Nova Scotia Tidal Power Project Delayed

Cape Sharp Tidal has delayed its tidal power project in the Bay of Fundy to address environmental concerns. As we previously wrote here and here, Cape Sharp Tidal, a joint venture between Ireland-based OpenHydro and Nova Scotia Power affiliate Emera, intends to deploy two 2MW tidal turbines in Minas Passage at the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE) test site. FORCE is a non-for-profit corporation set up as a test centre for in-stream tidal energy technology. It provides a shared observation facility, submarine cables, grid connection and environmental monitoring.

Cape Sharp Tidal was scheduled to install the first turbine later this month, but concerns from local fishermen about the environmental impacts of the project and delays in obtaining approval of an environmental monitoring program have resulted in Cape Sharp Tidal delaying the deployment to allow for further consultation. In May of this year, the Bay of Fundy Inshore Fishermen's Association