Aecon to begin turbines assembly for Cape Sharp Tidal

The works on the construction of tidal turbines’ parts and associated equipment is progressing well at Aecon Group’s facilities.

According to The Advocate, the assembly of the two turbines for the Cape Sharp Tidal project will begin within the next couple of weeks.

After a competitive tender process Aecon Group and Lengkeek Vessel Engineering have been selected by Cape Sharp Tidal in a $20.3 mln deal.

Aecon Group has been tasked with the fabrication of the turbines components and development of the barge that will be used to deploy turbines on the seabed, while Lengkeek Vessel Engineering was awarded the contract for the design of the barge.

“The first phase of the project will see two turbines built in Pictou. During the second phase there will be six more turbines. The third phase will see 17 more turbines and by the fourth phase, our aim is to have up to 150 turbines by the year 2020,” Jeremy Poste, Country Manager of OpenHydro Canada  for the Cape Sharp Tidal project was quoted as saying by The Advocate, Nova-Scotia based media group.

The turbines will be 16 m in diameter and 20 m in height, and will weigh 1.000 tonnes with the base, The Advocate reports.

Cape Sharp Tidal, a joint venture between Emera and OpenHydro, plans to deploy and grid-connect two 2 MW tidal turbines in the Bay of Fundy in fall 2015.

Aecon Group is a Canadian construction and infrastructure development company that provides integrated turnkey services to private and public sector clients.

Lengkeek Vessel Engineering is a naval architecture and marine engineering firm based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Image: Emera