Tidal Energy Rising: Could We Harness The Power of the Sea?

For a few years now, the popular meme of ‘get in the sea’ has been thrown around. It’s about getting rid of things we don’t want or need, and chucking them into the vast expanse of ocean. While this was always a joke aimed usually at someone with a controversial opinion, it seems one company has taken ‘get in the sea’ to a new level.

Cape Sharp Tidal has decided that, instead of getting in the sea, they’d use it to their advantage. This company wants to use the power of the tide via underwater turbines to create energy sources. They will be doing so in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia. With director Christian Richard claiming that the turbines will use energy from tidal currents to turn the blades, this all sounds very exciting.

Best of all? Unlike other forms of green energy, they lack the eyesore issue that others cause. Many people dislike wind turbines, for example, due to their garish, scenery-damaging view. These turbines, though, will sit on the ocean floor and avoid this problem once and for all.

Without the ability to reduce naval navigation or impede traffic, it’s already a winner in the eyes of many.

A Developing Program

At the moment, the project is still in the early testing phases – but there’s a lot of positivity around. Not only is it going to become more efficient and resistant to corrosion, but it will become more cost-effective, too. One of the main concerns, though, is how such a feature might have a negative impact on marine life.

The predictability of the tides, though, means that this is simply an opportunity that could not be ignored. Since tides are easy to understand, the machinery should be able to work on a regular basis without too much inconsistency or problems

A recent update was provided at the end of February, providing some interesting updates on what is going on. The plan is to use a barge in the spring to help take the equipment out to sea in preparation to be deployed. It’s a very interesting development, and sure shows that Canadian companies are moving fast to be lead innovators in green tech.

While there’s still much to come, it’s safe to say that Cape Sharp Tidal is on the verge of something special. In years to come, this kind of machinery could become a global standard.