Fundy Tidal Energy Demonstration Facility
In January 2008, the Province of Nova Scotia announced that Minas Basin Pulp and Power (Minas) had been awarded the right to construct a tidal power demonstration and research facility in the Bay of Fundy. This facility will allow for the testing of in-stream turbine devices in tidal waters that are known to possess the most demanding conditions of anywhere in the world. Throughout the course of the test period, the devices will be monitored for wear, environmental impacts and performance that will lead to further technological developments.

The Fundy Tidal Energy Demonstration Facility is subject to an environmental assessment designed to evaluate Minas' proposed project. This environmental oversight will be examining in detail the numerous aspects of our proposal with emphasis on its impact on the marine environment, community acceptance and socio-economic benefits to adjacent areas.

The actual demonstration site location has not been determined but selection will be based on a number of factors including ocean currents, tidal flows, the transport of sediment, seabed habitats, fisheries activities, ship traffic, submarine cable routing, ocean bottom and water depth. We know that extraction of hydrokinetic energy has its greatest potential in the Minas Passage area of the Minas Channel. To that end, we are concentrating our efforts in the Minas Passage and we expect the proposed facility will be sited somewhere in the vicinity of Parrsboro. The interconnection with the electricity grid is also expected to occur near Parrsboro.

Who is Minas Basin Pulp and Power?
Minas Basin Pulp and Power, based in Hantsport, is a company committed to being part of the greening of Nova Scotia's energy sector. In business since 1927, we are proud to have already been 'green' for many years. Minas' mill was the first in Nova Scotia and one of the first in Canada to fully comply with all Federal Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations. We have used recycled cellulose fibre in one form or another since the early 1950's, and now use only 100% recycled fibre in producing our paper. In addition to tidal power, Minas is also strategically pursuing a range of renewable energy initiatives such as wind power, biomass cogeneration, and the reprocessing of plastic wastes to diesel fuel.

Since 2002, Minas has been reducing its energy consumption by applying a variety of conservation measures. This investment has created registered carbon credits. In 2008, Minas will be one of the first companies in the province to engage in the trading of carbon credits.

Where will the 'tidal' electricity go?
The electricity generated by the three devices will be sent to the on-shore facility via submerged cables. The on-shore facility will house electrical equipment and continuous monitoring systems. Further details on the remaining parts of the shore facility have not been determined but possibilities include research laboratory spaces and a learning center to accommodate visiting groups, both local and international.

Construction standards will meet or exceed national eco-efficiency requirements. Preliminary conceptual drawings are shown below:

The Challenge of the Bay of Fundy
The dream of harnessing the energy from the high tides and resulting strong currents of the Bay of Fundy has existed for a very long time. Acadia University archives contain documents that refer to a 1916 energy project at Cape Split. Even earlier, Mi'kmaq people would have learned to use this energy in many different ways.

An average single tidal flow into the Bay of Fundy from the adjacent Gulf of Maine contains approximately 104 cubic km of water. At mid-tide, the flow in Minas Channel to the south of Parrsboro equals the combined flow of all the rivers and streams on Earth. At Burntcoat Head in Minas Basin, the maximum range between low and high tides of 53.43 feet (16.29 m) was observed on July 16, 1916 and remains a world record.

Given the high tides and strong currents, it is not unexpected that such a region would also have a complex seabed characterized by unique features indicative of sediment scour and sand dune generation. Recent surveys of the seabed have revealed that it indeed has been sculpted by the high velocity currents. Large regions are scoured to bedrock, a wide variety of desert-like sand dunes occur, and areas of gravel waves cover other regions. All of these seabed features indicate a very dynamic environment and play a determining role on the design and location of bottom-mounted structures for in stream tidal power generation.

Multibeam bathymetry, which provides a detailed picture of the topography of the seafloor and water depths, has been collected for areas of the Bay of Fundy where such devices are contemplated. This imagery is an underwater equivalent of an aerial photograph and provides a key understanding of seabed materials and processes for the appropriate siting of bottom mounted devices. Interpretation of the sea bed mapping images is presently underway.