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Cape Cod tidal test site still awaits installation permit

June 21, 2017

Marine Renewable Energy Collaborative (MRECo) is still waiting to receive the final permit to begin with the installation of the fully built tidal test structure in the Cape Cod Canal in Massachusetts.

The final go-ahead for the installation of the Bourne Tidal Test Site (BTTS) test structure has not yet been granted by the US Army Corps of Engineers, even though MRECo expected to receive it early in May this year.

Once the final permit is in place, MRECo will mobilize a marine construction company AGM Marine Contractors to install the completed steel BTTS test structure, which was fabricated by MassTank, MRECo revealed earlier.

In the meantime, MRECo said its team of experts has been putting the FSI ACM Current meter through its paces to simulate current data transmission, processing and display through several interfaces.

FSI ACM meter (Photos: MRECo)

MRECo will this month conduct a full demonstration of the FSI ACM meter, which will be in place once the structure is installed to transmit the data to its website, with the support from the Impact Labs in New Bedford.

The FSI ACM Current meter has already been demonstrated in in the pool during the recent MATE ROV Competition at the Sandwich STEM Academy pool as part of MRECo’s outreach efforts to STEM organizations.

“We continue to demonstrate the ins and outs of the data transmission system that when fully operational aboard the BTTS structure will enable students from around the world to access the data and make predictions of power output for their various engineering projects,” said MRECo.

BTTS will consist of a steel test structure comprising two pilings joined by a bridge with test turbine mounted onto the bridge.

It is anticipated that turbines of up to 3 meters in diameter will be tested with maximum output of 100kW.

MRECo is a nonprofit corporation whose purpose is to foster the sustainable growth of marine renewable energy, including wave, tidal, and offshore wind sectors of New England through education, collaboration, and demonstration.