Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE), the Offshore Energy Research Association (OERA), and the Nova Scotia Department of Energy announced $500,000 in funding to begin a new environmental effects monitoring program (EEMP) at the FORCE site in the Minas Passage.
“We need to understand what effects in-stream tidal technologies may have on the marine ecosystem,” said Tony Wright , general manager of FORCE. “If tidal energy is to grow to a larger scale, development must happen responsibly.”
The program is designed to determine potential turbine effects on the marine environment with a focus on fish, lobster, marine birds, marine mammals, and acoustic effects.
“Tidal energy holds tremendous potential for our province –both as a source of clean power and as an economic opportunity for our growing ocean technology sector,” said Nova Scotia Energy Minister Michel Samson . “Monitoring and sharing data are important in realizing this potential – providing industry, scientists, regulators and the public with more information about how the technologies are interacting with the natural environment.”
Stephen Dempsey , executive director of the OERA, added: “ Environmental monitoring is key to understanding the interactions of marine life with tidal energy devices as they are deployed in the Bay of Fundy this year.”
The $500,000 for environmental effects monitoring includes $250,000 from FORCE plus an additional $250,000 from OERA and the NS Department of Energy.