CANADA

In 2014, Clean Current continued to operate the company’s 1.5 m turbine at the Canadian Hydrokinetic Turbine Test Centre (CHTTC) in Manitoba. The unit was retrieved for inspection and retrofitted with a new heightened foundation to better capture the peak river flows. The turbine power was delivered to an onshore resistive load, because the device was tested before CHTTC was grid connected. Clean Current’s onshore control system also successfully varied the load to optimize energy extraction based on the constantly varying river conditions.

New Energy Corp. installed their 5 kW enCurrent vertical axis turbine in Ringmo, Dolpa, Nepal, in the spring of 2014. The site is very remote – it is 3 days to the nearest road, and all components needed to be carried in by hand. The system operated for four solid months at capacity. Ringmo  closes down in the fall, but will be opened again in the spring at which time the unit will be restarted.

New Energy Corp. installed their 5 kW enCurrent vertical-axis turbine at the CHTTC in September, primarily to test a patented fully submersible bearing.

The test was a resounding success, and this bearing design has already been incorporated into the commercial product design. Testing will continue in 2015 on various aspects of the mechanical design as well as control system enhancements for both standalone and grid connected applications.

Mavi tested the Mi1-20 kW floating ducted crossflow turbine at the CHTTC in November, 2014. Due to severe winter conditions, turbine operation was limited to short interval testing. Mavi will return to the CHTTC in Spring/Summer 2015 to complete a longer term test program.

Jupiter Hydro tested their Delta unit (36” diameter) helical screws turbine at the CHTTC in the second quarter of 2014. In the fourth quarter of 2014, Jupiter Hydro tested their 3EC42 unit (42” diameter) helical screws turbine at the CHTTC. The 3EC42 unit has remote monitoring and control capabilities. Idénergie conducted a public demonstration of the installation and electricity generation of their small scale (<5 kW) river current turbine. The turbine was installed in a river near Montréal and linked it to a cabin 300 m away to power the basic home appliances (fridge, tv, lighting, cooking stove, internet, water pump).

The 20 MW Annapolis Royal tidal barrage power plant was commissioned in 1984 and continues to operate today. It is owned and operated by Nova Scotia Power (a subsidiary of the utility company EMERA). Annapolis Royal is the only commercial tidal power plant in North America.
 

PLANNED DEPLOYMENTS
In March 2014, the Government of Nova Scotia announced two new berth holders at FORCE, to join the two existing berth holders. Cape Sharp Tidal Venture, comprised of OpenHydro/DCNS with partner Emera were awarded a berth after a 1 MW OpenHydro device was deployed in 2009 and recovered in 2010 by Nova Scotia Power Inc. Black Rock Tidal Power, with parent company, SCHOTTEL, also secured a berth. As part of their new plans, Minas Energy and partner Marine Current Turbines (MCT) have added Bluewater Energy Services as partner and they have jointly agreed to develop a two x 2 MW floating tidal current turbine platforms. Atlantis Resources, with partners Lockheed Martin and Irving Shipbuilding remains the fourth berth holder at the FORCE site. To support these deployments and the first 20 MW of development at the FORCE site, the Government of Nova Scotia committed more than $4 million in funding to increase the electrical capacity at FORCE.

In November 2014, the Government of Nova Scotia announced plans for a fifth berth holder at FORCE. The province is in discussions with Ireland-based renewable energy development company, DP Marine Energy, about installing a 4.5 MW tidal stream demonstration power plant at the FORCE site. Working with a consortium of industry and academic partners, Fundy Tidal has continued to advance COMFIT smallscale tidal energy projects in Grand Passage, Petit Passage, and Digby Gut toward deployment of turbines in late 2015 and/or early 2016. Fundy Tidal recently partnered with International Marine Energy (IME) with agreements to develop current and future projects in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and Nunavut. IME also holds interests in Western Tidal Holdings (active in British Columbia) and Quemar Grand Nord Inc. (active in Quebec). The partnership provides opportunities to expand project development opportunities beyond Nova Scotia.

New Energy Corp. plans on installing two of their 5 kW enCurrent turbines in Myanmar in order to provide year round power for a school. The two floating demonstration systems are to be installed in a river adjacent to the school. Installation is scheduled for early 2015. 

New Energy Corp. continues to advance with their Canoe Pass, British Columbia project. Canoe Pass is a 500 kW Tidal demonstration on Vancouver Island. All permitting and regulatory approvals are in place for the project. 

Clean Current deployment at CHTTC

New Energy at remote site in Nepal

Mavi prepares Mi1 Turbine for deployment at CHTTC

Jupiter Hydro model 3EC42 deployment at CHTTC