Canada’s Nova Scotia has signalled the green light for the deployment of OpenHydro’s two tidal turbines at the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy.
The provincial government has approved the monitoring programme of OpenHydro and local utility Emera’s Cape Sharp Tidal joint venture at the Minas Passage.
Approval was provided after department staff reviewed the Environmental Effects Monitoring Plan and consulted with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
“We are satisfied that the proposed plan, together with the monitoring and study improvements as we have directed, will help address information gaps and improve our understanding of the interaction between the two turbines and marine life in this unique environment,” said environment minister Margaret Miller.
“If we are to advance our collective knowledge of the turbines’ impact on our fish and marine mammals, demonstration turbines need to be in the water.”
A new monitoring programme is required and must be accepted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Department of Environment before any more turbines can be deployed, it added.
Earlier this month, Cape Sharp Tidal halted the deployment of the first of two 2MW OpenHydro turbines due to protests from local fishermen. The venture is consulting further with the fishermen.
Image: Open Centre Turbine (OpenHydro)
