A 1-megawatt (MW) tidal turbine, which will be deployed in the Bay of Fundy this fall, was unveiled this week. The turbine forms part of Nova Scotia's tidal power test facility which is being developed by Nova Scotia Power and its technology partner OpenHydro. The Open-Centre Turbine was manufactured in Ireland by OpenHydro, and it will rest directly on the ocean floor using a subsea gravity base fabricated in Dartmouth by Cherubini Metal Works.

"It's exciting to have reached this point in the turbine's development," said Rob Bennett, President and CEO of Nova Scotia Power. "Nova Scotia Power has been harnessing the power of the Bay of Fundy since the 1980s, and we're looking forward to the results and the potential of this emerging technology as part of our overall shift to more renewable energy in Nova Scotia. Reaching this milestone was only possible with the support and work of our partners at Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE), particularly Minas Basin Pulp Power."

The 10-metre turbine will be deployed in the Minas Passage of the Bay of Fundy this fall as part of the FORCE tidal test site. Testing will last up to two years. Operational data will be collected and shared by Nova Scotia Power and OpenHydro to determine the environmental performance and future feasibility of tidal power in the Bay of Fundy. The testing will focus on the robustness of the turbine in the harsh environment of the Bay of Fundy, close monitoring of any environmental impacts of the turbine, and the energy production capabilities of the technology.

"We are delighted to be working with Nova Scotia Power on this innovative project", said James Ives, CEO of OpenHydro. "We believe that the Bay of Fundy holds huge potential as a source of clean renewable energy and we look forward to completing the installation of our first 1MW turbine this Fall and beginning the detailed turbine and environmental monitoring programme."