DARTMOUTH – The Nova Scotia government is committing more financial support towards the Bay of Fundy’s tidal power.
Premier Stephen McNeil’s government also named two tidal energy developers who have won a chance to deploy their technologies in Fundy’s Minas Passage.
At a news conference Friday, Nova Scotia Energy Minister Andrew Younger said they’ll be investing $4.2-million in order to create a 20 megawatts grid connection.
Younger named Open Hydro Technology and Black Rock Tidal Power as successful bidders for the open berths with FORCE.
“All of the berth holders are bringing international money into Nova Scotia,” said Younger. “They have local firms they’re partnering with, so there’s a lot of job opportunities – a lot of economic opportunities – and we’ve looked at the long-term modeling on this and cost of tidal is going to come down to a competitive rate.”
Nova Scotia Community College will start an ocean technologies program in the fall to meet the job opportunities.
“Start creating local opportunities for local residents as opposed to these companies having to hire from not just Newfoundland, but Germany, Ontario, from B.C.,” said Cris Seaton, a program assistant at NSCC.
The developmental turbines will soon be in the water.
“We have started with the development of a turbine and we have tested this turbine,” said Gerhard Jansen of Black Rock Tidal Power.
A semi-submerged floating device will carrying several of the turbines. The company feels it will be the most cost-effective and easily maintainable device for the tidal industry in the future. The turbines are expected to be powering homes by next year.
Comments