N.S. government will oversee recovery of abandoned tidal turbine
Nova Scotia Energy Minister Trevor Boudreau has announced that his department will be taking the lead on recovering a long-abandoned tidal turbine from the floor of the Bay of Fundy. The turbine, weighing 1,300 tonnes, has been sitting idle for over six years after the company responsible for its retrieval, Occurrent Power, filed for bankruptcy.
Initially, the plan was for Occurrent Power to remove the turbine as part of its berth conditions at the Fundy Ocean Research Centre of Energy (FORCE) near Parrsboro, N.S. However, with the company no longer in operation, the responsibility has now fallen to the Energy Department and FORCE to oversee the recovery effort.
Minister Boudreau emphasized the importance of completing the recovery quickly to open up the berth for future projects. He also mentioned that a $4.5-million bond from Occurrent towards the cost of retrieving the device is still in place.
In addition to the turbine, efforts are underway to remove four railcars filled with concrete that were used as moorings for the Occurrent project. These railcars have been deemed a navigational hazard by Transport Canada.
On a more positive note, the Energy Department recently announced plans to fill the two vacant berths at FORCE. The procurement process will be managed by Power Advisory LLC, with successful applicants receiving licenses, power purchase agreements with Nova Scotia Power, and agreements with FORCE to use the site.
Despite the challenges faced by previous tidal energy projects in the Bay of Fundy, Minister Boudreau remains optimistic about the future. He believes that there are still proponents who are interested in working on new projects and learning from past failures to create successful ventures in the future.
As the province continues to explore renewable energy opportunities, the recovery of the abandoned tidal turbine and the development of new projects at FORCE represent important steps towards harnessing the power of the tides in the Bay of Fundy.
