First 2MW tidal turbine hits Bay of Fundy waters

Cape Sharp Tidal turbine installation (Photo: Cape Sharp Tidal)
Cape Sharp Tidal turbine installation (Photo: Cape Sharp Tidal)

 
Cape Sharp Tidal has deployed the first 2MW OpenHydro tidal turbine at the Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE) near Parrsboro, Nova Scotia.

Cape Sharp Tidal turbine, towed to the site by Atlantis Towing’s Kingfisher, was lowered to the sea floor in a 4-hour operation on an ebb tide yesterday, November 7.

During the rest of this week’s deployment window, Cape Sharp Tidal will be focused on completing the grid-connection to FORCE’s subsea cable, and delivering power to Nova Scotia’s grid.

“In the next few days, we’ll connect the turbine cable tail and our Y-shaped connector cable by lifting each from the sea floor and joining them on the deck of Atlantic Towing’s Beaver Barge,” Cape Sharp Tidal said.

Several partners were involved in the operation, including Nova Scotia companies Atlantic Towing, Seaforth, Mike Huntley and RMI, with more than 20 local crews.

The works to deploy the second turbine, and complete the 4MW tidal array, will begin next year.