Nova Scotia renewable energy company Black Rock Tidal Power Inc. (BRTP) has awarded the contract to fabricate its TRITON S40 tidal power platform to Aecon Atlantic Industrial Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aecon Group Inc., signaling the first full-scale fabrication of this technology in the world. The instream tidal device will be installed in the Bay of Fundy in 2017.
BRTP’s tidal-current energy technology uses forty SIT 250 turbines mounted on the TRITON, summing up to 2.5 MW overall capacity. Because the TRITON can be easily brought to the surface it allows for easy maintenance access. The use of multiple small turbines together with TRITON’s maintenance approach reduces both capital and maintenance costs.
Instream tidal power is a predictable source of renewable energy because of the regularity of the tides, meaning tidal energy can be used on a commercial scale to produce renewable electricity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
BRTP is one of five companies from around the world awarded a demonstration site at FORCE, Canada’s research center for instream tidal energy located in the Bay of Fundy.