Cape Sharp Tidal Deploys Subsea Cable

Cape Sharp Tidal, a joint venture between Emera and OpenHydro, has completed the installation of its subsea power cable and the launch of its deployment barge.

The operation to lay the Cape Sharp Tidal interconnection cable is the first project component to be deployed.

With support from Atlantic Towing, Cape Sharp Tidal deployed 300 metres of power and fibre-optic data cable from a specially-outfitted barge. Teams also recovered and lifted the existing 16MW subsea export cable installed by FORCE, and using an on-deck mating table, linked it to the Cape Sharp’s interconnection hub. The whole system was placed back on the sea floor, where the cables will remain until Spring 2016, when the turbines are scheduled for deployment, the company explained.

Furthermore the Scotia Tide barge, designed by OpenHydro, built by Aecon Group in Pictou, took its maiden voyage around the Pictou Harbour. The 64-metre long, 37-metre wide, 650-tonne barge has a 1,150-tonne carrying capacity. Purpose-built for deployment and recovery operations, the Scotia Tide is equipped with three heavy-lift winches that give it a capacity to lower and raise turbines from the sea floor. Cape Sharp Tidal’s 1,000-tonne turbines will be towed from Pictou Harbour to the FORCE test site in Parrsboro next spring.

“Every success of Cape Sharp Tidal manufacturing and operations is an important step toward building a tidal energy sector in Nova Scotia,” said Chris Huskilson, President and CEO of Emera. “The safe and successful cable installation and the made-in-Nova Scotia the Scotia Tide barge launch are two of the more significant milestones.”

“Nova Scotians continue to impress with their expertise in ship-building, industrial manufacturing and as experienced marine operators,” said James Ives, OpenHydro’s Chief Executive. “The barge launch and the cable installation are both Nova Scotia-made solutions that get us one step closer to a successful tidal array in this first demonstration phase of the Cape Sharp Tidal project.”

Cape Sharp Tidal plans to install two 2-megawatt in-stream tidal turbines in 2016, at the FORCE test site.