N.S. announces $4M for tidal energy projects

Technicians prepare to deploy the first commercial in-stream tidal turbine in the Bay of Fundy near Parrsboro, N.S. on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan)

HALIFAX -- The Nova Scotia government is spending $4 million to research technologies used in the tidal industry.

Energy Minister Andrew Younger says the funding will help increase the electrical capacity at the Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy, or FORCE, by allowing newer devices to connect to the grid.

Younger also announced the tidal energy developers selected to deploy their technologies in the Bay of Fundy's Minas Passage after the province issued a tender for FORCE berths.

OpenHydro and Halifax-based Black Rock Tidal Power were chosen to participate at the research and development centre.

Minas Energy, an existing berth holder, also announced it will partner with Bluewater to create an advanced flotation system to deploy turbines in the Bay of Fundy.

Tony Wright, general manager of FORCE, says the projects will help advance the science of tidal energy.