A partnership between Canadian Minas Basin Pulp and Power Company Ltd and UK Marine Current Turbines Ltd to demonstrate and develop tidal power technology and facilities in Canada’s Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia was announced last Friday (23rd January). The two companies will participate in the tidal power demonstration centre established by the Province of Nova Scotia.  MBPP and MCT intend to deploy a 1.5MW tidal generator when the in-stream tidal energy centre enters full operation and is connected to the Nova Scotia grid.

"We are very excited to combine our extensive experience in resource and energy development with MCT's leading UK tidal power technology,” said Scott Travers, President and COO of MBPP. "We were one of the original developers of power generation, transmission and distribution in Nova Scotia, and we still operate a major renewable hydro generating facility. Tidal power has significant potential benefits for all Nova Scotians," he concluded.

Martin Wright, Managing Director of MCT welcomed the development. "This is an excellent opportunity to work together with a substantial local partner in MBPP and expand our activities into Canada.  It builds on the development of our technology in Northern Ireland and will complement our first 10MW farm development in the UK, planned for off the North Wales coast.  MBPP will make an excellent fit because both our organizations bring complementary experience and important resources to the table.”

He added: “Given the growing need for new and alternative forms of power generation, there is a sizeable and exciting opportunity for both our firms to work together in Canada to harness the power of the tides on a commercial basis.”

"We hope first to be in a position to address the potential investment and job creation prize for Nova Scotians when tidal power commercial development moves to the next step. There is a potential new industry here employing hundreds of people in operations and manufacturing and deployment of tidal power technology, here and globally," concluded MBPP’s Scott Travers.