Bay of Fundy tidal turbines get regulatory green light

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has issued a Fisheries Act Authorization to Eauclaire Tidal to deploy up to three Orbital Marine Power O2-X tidal turbines at the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE).

According to FORCE, the deployment is the first project to move forward under Canada’s revised staged approach for tidal stream energy, a regulatory framework designed to combine environmental protection with investor clarity.

The DFO’s staged approach, developed following the federal Tidal Task Force on Sustainable Tidal Energy Development, which is led by DFO and Natural Resources Canada, is said to allow projects to start with a single device and monitoring, followed by additional installations informed by environmental data collection, interpretation, and analysis.

“This decision shows that regulation, science and responsible development can come together to fight the challenge of climate change,” said Lindsay Bennett, Executive Director, FORCE.

“FORCE is committed to supporting it all: meeting the highest standards of environmental monitoring, advancing the science that helps protect marine life, and responsibly unlocking the enormous potential of the Bay of Fundy for clean energy and economic growth.”

Under the authorization, Eauclaire and Orbital will install up to three floating O2-X turbines within the FORCE test site in Minas Passage. Each unit generates about 2.5 MW, enough to power roughly 2,000 homes, with the three-turbine array expected to deliver 7.5 MW to Nova Scotia’s grid. FORCE noted this will contribute to the province’s renewable energy targets.

“This authorization is an important step forward for tidal energy in Canada,” stated Jane Lowrie, President of Eauclaire Tidal Limited Partnership.

“It shows what’s possible when regulators, researchers, and developers work together toward the same goal – clean energy that respects the marine environment. DFO’s Staged Approach gives us a clear and practical pathway to advance responsibly, guided by science and strong partnerships. We’re proud to be part of this new chapter in the gold standard for tidal power – the Bay of Fundy.”

FORCE highlighted the site’s role as a proving ground for both tidal stream technology and marine environmental science.

The Ocean Sensor Innovation Platforms project – a collaboration between FORCE, Acadia University, the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq, and the Ocean Tracking Network – is developing approaches better to understand fish–turbine interactions in strong tidal currents. A floating environmental monitoring platform under development will directly support DFO’s staged approach, FORCE said.

“Nova Scotia is leading the way in marine renewable energy. The Bay of Fundy’s tides are a unique, world-class resource – and with the right balance of science, regulation, and investment, they can help power our province for generations. This authorization reflects the strong partnerships that are moving Nova Scotia’s clean energy transition forward, and bringing jobs and investments to our communities,” added Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia.