On behalf of the Government of Canada, Kelly Block, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Joe Oliver, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, today unveiled a tidal turbine that stands in the Technology Park of the Canada Science and Technology Museum. The turbine was part of an SDTC-supported project that bolstered Canada’s technological expertise in the field of renewable energy.
The turbine was the world’s first ducted free-stream tidal power project, a 65 kW turbine that was installed at an ecological reserve near Victoria, BC. The project enabled the marine park to convert tidal stream energy to electric power, reducing dependence on two diesel generators.
It was the first sustained field testing of a new electricity-generating technology in Canada’s harsh marine environment, and now stands in the Technology Park as an important artefact in Canada’s effort to harness the power of the ocean to generate electricity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The turbine was unveiled today as part of activities undertaken to mark “Let’s Talk Energy Week”, which runs from February 21 to 28.
Quick Facts
- The turbine was developed as part of an SDTC-funded project led by Clean Current called "The Pearson College - EnCana - Clean Current Tidal Power Demonstration Project".
- Based on this project, Clean Current Power Systems was able to incorporate further developments and improvements in its current turbine technology, helping Canada secure its place at the forefront of the global effort to develop sustainable energy.
- The project played a critically important role in the development of Clean Current's commercial uni-directional turbines. A model of the company's river turbine was deployed at the Canadian Hydrokinetic Turbine Test Centre in Manitoba in 2013 and a model of its tidal turbine will be deployed in Grand Passage, Nova Scotia in 2015.
- On behalf of the Government of Canada, SDTC helps to bring Canadian clean technologies closer to commercialization, readying them for growth and export markets.
- Through its SD Tech Fund™, SDTC helps companies through the critical juncture when capital and scaling costs become challenges and the risk profile deters other investors.
- The SDTC portfolio is currently comprised of 246 clean technology projects with a total value of $2.2 billion, of which over $1.6 billion is leveraged primarily from the private-sector.
Quotes “Our government is investing in clean technologies that create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity for Canadians. Projects like these build the economy while also protecting our environment. We are proud to have played a role in this Canadian success story.”
Kelly Block Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources “We are proud to display the Pearson College – EnCana – Clean Current tidal turbine as the latest large artefact to grace our Technology Park, outside the Canada Science and Technology Museum. We are very thankful to SDTC for sharing this notable testimony of Canadian energy innovation with all Canadians.”
Fernand Proulx Interim President and CEO, Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation “It is thrilling to see the Clean Current turbine stand in this park marking a historical step forward in the development and use of tidal energy, and demonstrating Canadian marine energy innovation at its best. We have enjoyed working with Clean Current and are excited to see where their technology will take us next.”
Vicky Sharpe President and CEO, Sustainable Development Technology Canada Associated Links Sustainable Development Technology Canada:
www.sdtc.ca .
