Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE) | Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE)

Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE)
Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE)
Lead Organisation Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy
Country Canada
Type Tidal
Website https://fundyforce.ca/
facebook
  • Type of Testing Tidal
    Year Established 2009
    Temperate/Tropical Temperate
    Commercial/Array/Full scale/Scale Full scale
    Development Status Operational

    Overview

    FORCE is Canada’s lead research facility for tidal stream technology, located in the Minas Passage of the Bay of Fundy. As a not-forprofit, FORCE collaborates with government, industry, academia and the public to better understand if this technology can play a safe, effective role in Canada’s energy future.
    FORCE acts as a host to turbine developers, providing a permitted site, electrical infrastructure, an observation facility, and connection to the power grid. The site features 14 billion tonnes of average tidal flow moving at peak speeds above 5 m/s, producing an estimated 7,000 MW of power.
    Since 2009, FORCE has conducted an independently-reviewed environmental effects monitoring program as well as a series of applied research programs, including the use of underwater sensor platforms to advance the science of data capture in high flows, which has helped to increase understanding and scientific knowledge of the Minas Passage. All monitoring reports are available online.
  • Number of Berths 5
    Water Depth 45 m ar low tide
    Min Water Depth (m)
    Max Water Depth (m) 45
    Avg Water Depth (m)
    Annual mean significant wave height 1 m
    Maximum recorded wave height
    Mean (averaged current speed) 5 m/s
    Maximum current speed
    Maximum tidal range 13 m
    Mean wind speed
    Max wind speed
    Seabed type Scoured bedrock
    Total test area (km2) 519.5
    Distance to land 1.5 km
    Grid connected Y
    Grid connection capacity 64 MW
    Rated export capacity and connection
    Proximity to nearest harbour (km)

  • Demonstration Projects

    Pempa'q (Minas Tidal Limited Partnership and
    Sustainable Marine Energy Canada): https://www.sustainablemarine.com/pempa-q
    Uisce Tapa (Haligonia Tidal Energy Limited and Rio Fundo Operations Canada): https://www.dpenergy.com/projects/canadauiscetapa/
    Big Moon Power: http://bigmoonpower.com/

    R&D Projects

    - Risk Assessment Program for Tidal Energy (RAP): https://fundyforce.ca/document-collection/risk-assessment-program
    - Fundy Advanced Sensor Technology (FAST)
    - Environmental Effects Monitoring Program: https://fundyforce.ca/document-collection?tag=%5B%22Monitoring%22%5D

    Infrastructure

    Subsea power cabling: four 34.5kV cables installed, totaling
    11km and 64MW capacity; Substation: 30MW transformer and turbine control bays;
    Grid connection: 10km of 69kV transmission line, connecting
    FORCE substation to provincial power grid via existing
    Parrsboro substation.

    Equipment available to support site deployments

    Subsea cabled systems, ADCP, FAST subsea platform frames and ballast designed for high-flow, other environmental monitoring
    instruments.

    Services of test programmes offered on site

    Provincial and federal approvals, including Environmental
    Assessment and Generator Interconnection Agreements, FORCE-managed on-site work permitting, mid-field environmental effects
    monitoring