Feds invest $9.4M in Atlantic Canada tidal energy projects
by CM Staff
Renewable energy source has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing electricity generated from fossil fuels.
HALIFAX — The federal government is investing $9.4-million in four projects that will generate energy from ocean tides and currents in Atlantic Canada.
Tidal energy as a renewable energy that has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by replacing electricity generated from fossil fuels.
The investments include:
- $4 million to Nova Innovation to build a tidal turbine array using sub-sea tidal technology in Petit Passage in the Bay of Fundy.
- $1.58 million to the University of Manitoba, in partnership with SOAR – Sustainable Oceans Applied Research, to advance research on river hydrokinetic and in-stream tidal energy technologies in the Canadian context.
- $2 million to Offshore Energy Research Association of Nova Scotia to research an environmental effects monitoring solution for the instream tidal energy industry in Canada, including fish and marine mammal interactions with tidal devices.
- $2 million to Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy to outline a plan to assess the encounter risk for fish with tidal devices and create a tool to support the regulatory authorization process for tidal energy projects.
The first project was funded through Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) Energy Innovation Program, which provides support to projects reducing emissions, including GHGs, through research, development and demonstration of clean energy technologies, with the aim of meeting 2050 clean growth targets.
The second project was funded through NRCan’s Clean Growth Program, which invests in clean technology research and development projects in Canada’s energy, mining and forest sectors.
Funding for the remaining projects comes from NRCan’s Emerging Renewables Power Program, a $200-million program.
