Workshop – Marine Operations in High-flow Tidal Sites: Deployment, installation, and maintenance
Our workshop series explores critical project/supply chain opportunities in the development of tidal energy projects. Businesses and researchers will have the opportunity to learn more about tidal energy developers’ specific requirements and to showcase their applicable skills to help address challenges and find solutions. The overall aim of the workshops is to connect local expertise with emerging opportunities in the marine renewable energy sector locally and globally.
As a continuation to the “Seabed Characterization for High-flow Tidal Sites: Geotechnical technologies, methods, and solutions Workshop we held in May, Marine Renewables Canada will be hosted the second workshop of this series on August 12th – “Marine Operations in High-flow Tidal Sites: Deployment, installation, and recovery.”
Reducing the costs of deployment and recovery operations will be critical to advancement of the marine renewable energy industry as mobilizing assets in high flow tidal environments currently makes up a large percentage of the total project costs. Developing new solutions for operating in tidal environments will be critical to cost reduction, operational safety, and the overall advancement of the sector. This will become even more critical as developers move from the deployment of a single device to multiple devices in arrays.
Workshop Proceedings
The workshop brought together approximately 65 participants representative of the supply chain, tidal energy project developers, government, and NGOs. Over the course of the event, tidal energy developers provided information on current project plans and specific insight on seabed characterization/geotechnical needs.
• Agenda
• Presentations:
– Graham Curren, Chair, Marine Renewables Canada
– Tony Wright, FORCE
– Andrew Carlisle, Cape Sharp Tidal (Presentation not available)
– Jack Gallagher, Black Rock Tidal
– John Woods, Minas Energy
– Dean Steinke, Dynamic Systems Analysis
– Heaton Rosborough, Rosborough Boats
– Alastair Trower, Enginuity
– Zach MacDonald, ASPIN KEMP & ASSOCIATES
Below are the original details of the workshop:
What will be covered?
- The strategy and vision for marine renewable energy development
- Industry progress to date
- Experience to date with marine operations in the Bay of Fundy
- Insight on marine operations challenges in the Bay of Fundy; identification of future needs and potential solutions
- Supply chain expertise and capabilities
Event Details
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Date: Wednesday, August 12th, 2015 |
Workshop Focus: Marine operations challenges
Reducing the costs of deployment and recovery operations will be critical to advancement of the marine renewable energy industry as mobilizing assets in high flow tidal environments currently makes up a large percentage of the total project costs. For example, station keeping is one of the major challenges for deployment of tidal generators and enabling technologies because areas of the Bay of Fundy with high flow speeds of up to 5 m/s offer only about 20-30 of somewhat slack tide.
While there are existing technologies for energetic marine environments such as dynamic positioning vessels, the costs of using one in the Bay of Fundy when the industry is in the early stages of development is prohibitive and likely to defeat the goal of cost reduction.
New technologies and solutions need to be developed to service various marine operations requirements of tidal energy projects. As key supporting technologies, industry specific moorings and anchors could be developed to reduce the cost of deployment. Innovative installation techniques for deeper water and larger scale installations are also needed – specifically around the design of appropriate vessels or configurations for installation and support, effective drilling techniques, and common-use systems such as platforms and barges. There also may be less costly solutions for collecting data, monitoring operations, and maintaining devices by using ROVs.
Developing new solutions for operating in tidal environments will be critical to cost reduction, operational safety, and the overall advancement of the sector. This will become even more critical as developers move from the deployment of a single device to multiple devices in arrays.
Background
The growing marine renewable energy sector (tidal, wave, and river current energy) presents numerous opportunities for businesses and researchers to apply expertise, transfer technology, develop innovations, and find solutions required by local and global markets. The global potential of this emerging industry is significant, with ~750 GW of worldwide potential resulting in up to $900-$1000 billion in expenditures.
Getting involved in early local projects is a key competitive advantage and a path to accessing global export opportunities. The opportunity for early participation and market entry is most immediate within the advancing tidal energy developments around the Bay of Fundy where world’s leading project and technology developers are working: large-scale projects at the Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE) and community based projects led by Fundy Tidal Inc. Over the next 5 years, 20 MW of tidal energy is expected to be developed in Nova Scotia resulting in approximately $175M in expenditures. The longer-term goal is 300+ MW post-2020, opening up more opportunities for early movers.
These projects will require local suppliers and expertise. Firms who have experience in related areas (e.g. ocean technology, marine operations, traditional hydro, offshore oil and gas, etc.) have capabilities that can and have been already applied to the tidal energy developments in the Bay of Fundy.
Additional Information
For more information about what kind of business opportunities are emerging in the marine renewable energy sector, please view Business Opportunities from Marine Renewable Energy Development and Project Lifecycle Needs (2012)
More ways to get involved
Over the course of 2015, Marine Renewables Canada will be leading webinars, workshops and information sessions aimed at engaging, informing, and supporting potential supply chain businesses and expertise in the emerging opportunities presented by tidal energy development.
Focused Workshops:
Marine Renewables Canada will be holding a series of workshops that explore critical project/supply chain opportunities in the development of tidal energy projects. Businesses and researchers will have the opportunity to learn more about developers’ specific requirements and to showcase their applicable skills to help address challenges and find solutions. Workshop focus areas will encompass project areas such as: seabed characterization, marine operations, and environmental monitoring. Others TBD.
Visit our events page here to learn more about upcoming events and opportunities for getting involved.
About Marine Renewables Canada
Marine Renewables Canada is the country’s wave, tidal, and river current energy association representing technology and project developers, utilities, researchers, and the energy and marine supply chain. Since 2004, the organization has worked to identify and foster collaborative opportunities, provide information and education, and represent the best interests of the sector to advance the development of a marine renewable energy industry in Canada that can be globally competitive.
For more information about the association please visit: www.marinerenwables.ca
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