Research Portal

Advancements in technologies and techniques for tidal energy development 

April 2017 – March 2020

This project was funded under the Natural Resources Canada Energy Innovation Program and supported research into innovative technologies and techniques to advance the tidal energy sector.  The research was comprised of five unique research initiatives with focus areas in environmental mo

Acceleration/Particle Velocity (PA/PV) Measurement System Evaluation in a Tidal Environment

February 2017 – December 2018

The objective of this project was designing and running a field experiment to test the performance of the Particle Acceleration/Particle Velocity (PA/PV) vector sensor.

Assessing Corrosion, Wear, Fatigue and VIV on Moorings and Cabling to Reduce Risk in Marine Operations

October 2017 – August 2018

The cost of cabling and moorings over the entire life of a tidal energy project is a significant proportion of total project expenditures and the potential failure of these components remains a major risk for the emerging tidal energy sector.

FORCE Site Marine Operations – Lessons Learned

November 2017 – April 2018

In recent years, marine operators have completed dozens of operations in the Minas Passage, from research surveys to instrument deployment, to the installation of electrical infrastructure to turbine deployment.

Nova Scotia Small Tidal Test Centre: Gap Analysis and Business Case

November 2017 – March 2018

As the tidal energy industry develops, there is increasing interest in the prospects for small-scale tidal energy development. Building small-scale tidal energy installations has promise given the number of locations where they can be used.

Measuring the Acoustic Detection Range of Large Whales from an Ocean Glider to Improve an Acoustic Whale Alert System for use by the Offshore Marine Industry in Atlantic Canada

April 2017 – January 2018

Researchers investigated a novel and in-development passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) system for use as a marine mammal detection technique. The work builds on a current research initiative between Dalhousie University and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI).

Geoscience » Seismic & Marine Sound

Test Snow Crab Response to Seismic Stress

February 2012 – September 2013

There is concern in Atlantic Canada that there is insufficient information on the potential effects of seismic noise on snow crab.

Marine Renewable Energy: Background Report To Support a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the Cape Breton Coastal Region, inclusive of the Bras D’Or Lakes

June – December 2012

In 2011 following a competitive request for proposal process, OERA commissioned AECOM’s Halifax office to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for marine renewable energy in Cape Breton.

Mi’kmaq Ecological Knowledge Study (Phase 2)

May 2012

A second Mi’kmaq Ecological Knowledge Study was carried out prior to potential marine renewable energy development in the Brier and Long islands area of the Bay of Fundy, including Grand Passage and Petite Passage.

A Framework for Environmental Risk Assessment and Decision-Making for Tidal Energy Development in Canada

March – May 2012

There is still a high degree of uncertainty regarding the environmental implications of in-stream tidal energy initiatives. This report outlines a science-based environmental risk assessment and decision-making framework for the emergent in-stream tidal energy industry.