Tidal Energy System Contract For OceanWorks

OceanWorks International contracted by the Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE) to establish project cable termination in the Bay of Fundy, Canada.

The project contract includes the design, manufacture and integration of the subsea instrumentation, shore station, and commissioning.

FORCE is deploying four power cables to connect prototype in-stream tidal turbines to a dedicated electrical sub-station. By providing this infrastructure, it is lowering the 'barrier to entry' for turbine manufactures to test their equipment in one of the most demanding tidal environments.

The planned deployment will take place in Atlantic Canada’s Bay of Fundy, which is renowned for having the highest tidal range in the world. When deployed, the first of the four cables will be equipped with cable termination instrumentation which is provided by OceanWorks International. This will add valuable information on the behavior and likely lifetime of the cables that are essential for the connection of turbines to the electrical grid, and ultimately to the end customers for the delivery of clean power.

FORCE works with developers, regulators, and researchers to study the potential for tidal turbines to operate within the Bay of Fundy environment providing a shared observation facility, submarine cables, grid connection, and environmental monitoring at its pre-approved test site. The Government of Canada, the Province of Nova Scotia, Encana Corporation, and participating developers have provided funding for the project.

OceanWorks is a subsea technology compaany specializing in the design and manufacture of manned / unmanned subsea systems and specialized equipment for military, oil and gas, scientific, and other marine markets.