OES Annual Report 2012 - Ocean Energy Systems

49
04 / COUNTRY REPORTS
Participation in Collaborative International Projects
In September 2011, Canada and the United Kingdom endorsed the Canada-United Kingdom Joint Declaration
to ensure a stronger partnership for the 21 st century. As part of the Joint Declaration both governments
declared an intention to mutually encourage the development of marine renewable energy technologies from
pilot-scale devices to grid-connected power generation stations. In May 2012, the tenets of the UK-Canada
Joint Declaration were further articulated in the Canada–UK Innovation Statement, which committed the UK
and Canada to “collaboration on technology development and knowledge sharing between both countries
to accelerate the development, demonstration and deployment of technologies and process to support
the marine energy sector…”. There have been five missions between Scottish and English government
officials and Canada, as well as a marine renewable energy trade-mission, with government and industry
representatives, under the auspices of the Joint Declaration. These missions explored strategic partnership
opportunities and further strengthened commercialization efforts between Canada and the UK.
In February 2009, the Clean Energy Dialogue was established between Canada and the United States
to enhance joint collaboration on the development of clean energy science and technologies to reduce
greenhouse gases and combat climate change. In June 2012, the release of the Clean Energy Dialogue Action
Plan II identified offshore renewable energy as one of the policy priorities under the Electricity Grid Working
Group. As part of this initiative, Canada’s Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Department of
Energy collaborated in the commissioning of a report on the marine renewable energy regulatory regimes of
the following six European countries: Denmark, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United
Kingdom. The focus of this report, entitled “International Overview of Marine Renewable Energy Regulatory
Frameworks”, is to provide a governance and regulatory overview of each country and lessons learnt by
industry and government in the administration of offshore renewable energy activities.
The Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE) and the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC)
joined in a strategic relationship in 2011 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. In 2012,
both FORCE and EMEC continued collaborative activities in scientific and technical areas of mutual interest.
Canada had a significant presence at ICOE 2012 in Dublin, with over 25 Canadian companies participating.
At ICOE 2012, it was announced that Marine Renewables Canada will host ICOE 2014 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION
Operational Ocean Energy Projects
The technology developer, Renewable Energy Research (RER), reports that the 250 kW TREK turbine
has been in operation since August 17 th 2010 in the Saint-Lawrence River near Montreal, Quebec. As of
December 2012, RER reports that it has been operating for a total of 19,130 hours, without any disruption
and zero failure. RER is planning to install more turbines starting in 2013.
The 20 MW Annapolis Royal tidal barrage power plant was commissioned in 1984 and continues to operate
today. It is owned and operated by Nova Scotia Power (a subsidiary of the utility company EMERA).
Annapolis Royal is the only commercial tidal power plant in North America.
New Developments
The 500 kW (2 x 250 kW) Canoe Pass project in British Columbia is planning to deploy the New Energy
EnCurrent generators in 2013. The project will be in a causeway of a narrow channel between Quadra and
Maud Islands in British Columbia.
FORCE has completed construction of the 138 kV transmission line and the substation and electrical
infrastructure. FORCE has also completed phase 1 of the subsea cable lay trials. The FORCE visitors centre
received about 3,700 visitors as of November 2012.