Marine Renewable Energy Collaborative (MRECo), the organization in charge of Bourne Tidal Test Site development, has filed a draft application to federal regulators to interconnect the infrastructure to the electrical grid.
On November 5, MRECo filed a Draft Pilot License Application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to interconnect the Bourne test site to the power grid, the organization informed.
The application is available for public comments until December 20, 2018, after which the decision will be made.
It will follow the recently approved permit – granted to MRECo by the US Army Corps of Engineers – which extends MRECo’s real estate license and regulatory permit for the Bourne test site for another year.
In addition, MRECo is preparing a Chapter 91 license application for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, which will – if approved – convert the existing short-term Chapter 91 permit into a 30-year license to operate, MRECo said.
The Bourne Tidal Test Site project consists of an existing turbine support platform mounted on two primary pilings that are spaced approximately 23 feet apart and embedded to a depth of 50 feet below the seabed, and that rise approximately 45 feet above the seabed.
It is suitable for testing of tidal energy components or turbines of up to 3 meters in diameter with maximum output of 100kW.
To remind, the Massachusetts Legislature appropriated $205,000 to MRECo to wire the test site to shore, and enable turbines and sensors to receive shore power and produce power to the grid back in October 2018.
The funding is still pending legislative approval, and MRECo is now working with Senator DeMacedo’s Office to ensure the Office of House and Economic Development releases the funds, the organization informed.