TIDAL POWER: Request for public input on potential locations for tidal turbines in Grand Passage

Request for public input on potential locations for tidal turbines in Grand Passage

Fundy Tidal is seeking public input on potential locations for tidal turbines in Grand Passage.  Turbine locations will be selected based on many factors, including community input, flow speeds, depth, seabed, waves, marine life, fishing zones, and acceptable infringement on navigation.  Fundy Tidal is currently assessing these factors working in collaboration with Dalhousie University, Acadia University, University of New Brunswick, Dynamic Systems Analysis, and Clean Current Power Systems.

A 1-year demonstration is planned with a turbine from Clean Current, with deployment scheduled for spring 2015.  The Clean Current turbine is 3.5 m in diameter and has a rated power of 65 kW.  The turbine would supply approximately 130,000 kWh of energy annually, which is enough to power approximately 6 to 8 homes. The Clean Current turbine is shown on Figure 1, and more information is available at www.cleancurrent.com.

Five study areas in Grand Passage are shown on Figure 2.  The study areas are locations within which a turbine or turbines could be deployed.  Based on technical considerations, study area GP-3 is currently the preferred location for demonstrating and testing the Clean Current turbine.  However, continued assessment including community input could lead to development in other study areas.  Any study area selected for further investigation will require detailed assessment of tidal flow and seabed conditions, monitoring environmental conditions, and environmental assessment.

The study areas are large compared to the footprint of an actual development.  An example footprint within study site GP-3 is shown on Figure 3.  The example shown is a 10 x 15 meter floating platform (red box), surrounded by a 50 x 55 meter no navigation zone (green box) to allow safe clearance of the mooring lines.  The design requires site-specific refinement, and is intended to provide a sense of scale for the impact of a floating turbine platform in Grand Passage.  Submerged designs that would pose minimal, or no, infringement on navigation are also being assessed.

We are seeking public input on the study areas, including preferred locations assuming both floating and submerged designs. Specific focus on the potential for a floating platform in GP-3 would be appreciated, and feedback on all study areas is valued.

A study area will be selected as the focus for activities during the summer, fall, and winter of 2014, leading to deployment of a turbine in early 2015.

A questionnaire intended to assist in providing input is available in Print Format or Online Format. Hard copies of the questionnaire and this notice have been posted at several businesses and public service buildings throughout the islands, with additional copies available to take home. This notice has also been posted to the "Islanders" and "Brier Island" Facebook groups.

Feedback can be provided through the Online Questionnaire or by email to community@fundytidal.com , mail to Box 1209, Westport, Nova Scotia, Canada B0V 1H0, and in public forum in Freeport on May 18, 2014.  An information and discussion session will be held following the Fireman's Breakfast.  For further information on Fundy Tidal please visit www.fundytidal.com.

Figure 1: Clean Current tidal turbine

http://www.cleancurrent.com/

Figure 2: Grand Passage study site locations.  Green squares are labels only, they do not indicate positioning of turbines. The study areas are locations within which a turbine or turbines could be deployed, and are large compared to the footprint of an actual development (see Figure 3).

Figure 3: Example floating turbine footprint in study area GP-3. The example shown is a 10 x 15 meter floating platform (red box), surrounded by a 50 x 55 meter no navigation zone (green box) to allow safe clearance of the mooring lines (four lines extending from platform).

Dana Morin

Director-Business Development

Fundy Tidal Inc.
Box 1209, Westport, Nova Scotia, B0V 1H0
Office: (902) 839.2078
Cell: (902) 790.3565
www.fundytidal.com