TIMELINE: Tidal power in the Minas Passage

HALCYON

The Maine-based Halcyon Tidal Power company created a Nova Scotia branch called Scots Bay Tidal Power Ltd. and proposed installing up to 34 turbines to harness tidal power.

February 2014:

• Halcyon proposal for Scots Bay met with criticism

March 2015:

• Project apparently still on

READ: Big Moon power gets yes from Scott's Bay, province on tidal energy project

CAPE SHARP TIDAL

Cape Sharp Tidal is a tidal energy project currently ongoing at the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy in Parrsboro. The project is a joint venture headed by Emera Inc. and OpenHydro.

May 2016:

• As turbines are readied for testing, fishermen remain wary.

Nov. 4, 2016:

• Fishermen criticize quick deployment of Cape Sharp Tidal turbine

November 21, 2016:

• Cape Sharp Tidal installs first turbine at FORCE site in Parrsboro, starts producing electricity
• Protestors gather against tidal project

April 5, 2017:

• Turbine is to be pulled for repairs

April 27, 2017:

• FORCE still working to pull turbine for repairs

May 3, 2017:

• Work to retrieve tangled turbine continues

June 15, 2017:

• Turbine is finally secured after months-long effort

November 2017:

• Multiple sources confirm 2018 deployment of second turbine delayed as both turbines receive maintenance in Saint John

BIG MOON POWER

This Halifax-based company was founded former Xerox CEO Lynn Blodgett in January 2015 after he conceived the company’s now-devised Kinetic Keel system, which uses a keel instead of a turbine to generate energy.

April 2016

• Multiple sources report first phase of prototype testing conducted in the Minas Basin

June 2016:

• Multiple sources report BMP founder Lynn Blodgett’s announcement of the new Kinetic Keel system to create tidal power without using turbines
• Tests begin in the Minas Passage and Bigmoon Power starts consulting with weir fishermen

August 2017:

• Consultations with Huntleys begin
• Second phase of prototype testing begins

April 2018:

• Nova Scotia Department of Energy approves two “marine renewable energy” permits for Bigmoon Power to begin testing keel prototypes

July 3, 2018:

• BMP holds meeting in Scots Bay to announce tidal project is moving forward, installing gravity base July 4. Hoping to deploy kinetic keel system within following two weeks.
• Tests to continue for 2-3 months as CMP looks at deploying first full-sized keel unit.