Marine Renewable Energy Collaborative (MRECo) has cleared the final regulatory hurdle for the installation of the Bourne Tidal Test Site in the Cape Cod Canal in Massachusetts, USA.
The final approval was received from the US Army Corps of Engineers after several environmental studies and careful review by multiple agencies, MRECo informed.
MRECo expects to install the platform in November 2017 at the site located well outside the commercial channel and tucked into an accessible spot near the railroad bridge on the mainland side of the Cape Cod Canal.
John Miller , Executive Director of the MRECo, said: “ We are very pleased the Corps of Engineers has determined that the Bourne Tidal Test Site will have no impact on the critical mission of the Cape Cod Canal and the local environment.”
Bourne Tidal Test Site will consist of a steel test structure comprising two pilings joined by a bridge with test turbine mounted onto the bridge.
Water velocity has been measured at over 2 meters/second (4 knots) on the maximum tidal cycle in both directions at the site. MRECo plans to test turbines of up to 3 meters in diameter with maximum output of 100kW for efficiency, power output, robustness and more.
MRECo encouraged organizations, individuals, companies, and research institutions interested in using the site for testing their own tidal energy devices and/or marine and remote sensors to contact the organization as it is accepting proposals for testing in the spring of 2018.
Funding for the test site was provided by the Seaport Economic Council, according to MREcO.