Every day, huge amounts of seawater flow in and out of Minas Passage in Nova Scotia, Canada. Now these water masses will create electricity through the establishment of the world’s first floating tidal power array, the Pempa’q In-stream Tidal Energy Project. Seasystems contributes with mooring technology for the first phase being installed this autumn.
The Bay of Fundy on the east coast of Canada is famous for having the highest tides in the world which can provide predictable renewable energy. The daily replacements of water will now be used to produce electricity for the Canadian power grid.
Electricity for 3,000 homes
This year, Scottish Sustainable Marine will deliver the first development phase of the Pempa’q In-stream Tidal Energy Project – the world’s first floating tidal power array. When completed, the project will provide up to nine megawatts of electricity to the province’s power grid. This is enough to power around 3,000 homes and will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 17,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
The first phase consists of a 420-kilowatt PLAT-I tidal energy platform, and Seasystems AS has been commissioned to supply adjustable mooring tensioners. Lying on the seabed, these are attached to the anchors that hold the power station in place in the strong tidal current – connecting the anchor chains with the anchors.
“An exciting and important breakthrough for Seasystems”
“In the global transition to more sustainable forms of energy, it is extremely inspiring to take part in such a ground-breaking project as Pempa’q. This is the first mooring contract we secure within floating tidal power, representing an important breakthrough for the company. We are thrilled to be entering new and progressive markets across the vibrant renewable energy sector, contributing towards a sustainable, low-carbon future,” says Seasystems Managing Director, Torkjell Lisland.
For the past five years, the company has adjusted its strategy from being purely a supplier of equipment to the oil and gas industry to focusing on deliveries to aqua culture and floating renewable energy. In 2020, Seasystems secured a contract to supply mooring equipment to Hywind Tampen, Equinor’s new floating wind farm, marking the firm’s first hardware contract in the floating wind power market.
