Innovation Energy: Tidal power is a promising source of electricity, but faces significant waves of challenges

The energy industry gets a bad rap when it comes to innovation, yet the oilpatch is by far the largest spender on clean tech in Canada, to the tune of $1.4 billion a year. As part of its continuing coverage of the innovation economy, the Financial Post reports on the intersection of technology and energy, from the oilpatch in Alberta, off the shores of Nova Scotia to the plains of Saskatchewan.

The deployment was considered a success for Cape Sharp and a major milestone for the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy , the main in-stream tidal energy testing ground in Canada. Tidal power offers a compelling source of electricity — both green and predictable — for governments and utilities hoping to boost their renewable energy output, and Canadian companies have the technology to make it happen, though it is still relatively unproven and risky for investors since the full commercial potential has yet to be demonstrated.

“Right now, developers are often faced with doing stuff for the very first time and that’s high risk and it’s expensive,” Wright said. “The challenge now is to … bring down the cost so that it becomes more competitive with other forms of renewable energy.” “FORCE has put all of the necessary ingredients in place to build the first demonstration projects,” said Damian Bettles, Canadian regional manager for DP Energy Ireland Ltd., one of the FORCE berth holders.

“This is a stepping stone for us looking to develop utility-scale projects in the tidal space in Nova Scotia in the future,” he said. “Our ambition from this would be to successfully demonstrate the nine-megawatt project and then in the next couple of years move to a 30-megawatt project and maybe a 100- to 150-megawatt project thereafter.”

“It’s basically learning by doing, as opposed to putting something down on the seabed and then hoping it will all work and if it doesn’t, you’re up for a massive couple-million-dollar bill to get it out,” he said, taking a shot at the Cape Sharp project. “It’s like doing some hill walking before we go mountaineering. And if you look at it, FORCE really is the K2 of tidal energy. You don’t want it to be your first time.

Sue Molloy, consulting engineer and adjunct professor at Dalhousie University Hayman said the 2020 deadline must be changed so the companies can launch effectively.Likewise, Bettles said DP is currently discussing an extension with the province.DP is a project developer, not a technology company. Its turbine of choice is made by Andritz Hydro and, according to Bettles, has been used in Scotland since November 2016.

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