Sustainable Marine Energy’s PLAT-I tidal energy platform has generated first power from the tidal currents of Grand Passage in Digby County, Nova Scotia on Saturday.
Following a period of commissioning and testing environmental monitoring equipment, Sustainable Marine Energy (SME) has satisfied the requirements set out by the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans to begin operation of tidal turbines on the PLAT-I platform.
The platform that is equipped with instream turbines developed by SCHOTTEL, was originally developed and tested in Scotland with support provided by Scottish Enterprise. It was relocated to Nova Scotia and installed at Grand Passage in September 2018.
Jason Hayman , managing director of Sustainable Marine Energy said: “We are very proud to have achieved this important milestone, as part of our staged testing and demonstration program in Nova Scotia. We have been working diligently with a wide range of stakeholders, including research organizations, academia and regulators to develop effective methods of monitoring the environmental interactions of this new form of electricity generation, and will continue to do so as we advance our technology. Our objective is to provide coastal and island communities with a robust, reliable and environmentally benign renewable energy solution.’’
Nova Scotia Energy and Mines minister Derek Mombourquette added: “Tidal energy continues to develop and remains a significant opportunity for businesses and workers in Nova Scotia. This achievement strengthens our province’s position as a national leader in fighting climate change, and as a global leader in the development of this clean, renewable energy technology.”