Features Energy & Power Renewables
Tidal turbine takes centre stage in Canadian science museum Technology Park

February 27, 2014 – Kelly Block, parliamentary secretary to Joe Oliver, Canada’s minister of natural resources (NRCan), unveiled a tidal turbine that stands in the Technology Park of the Canada Science and Technology Museum, and was part of a Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) supported project that “bolstered Canada’s technological expertise in the field of renewable energy”.

“It is thrilling to see the Clean Current turbine stand in this park marking a historical step forward in the development and use of tidal energy, and demonstrating Canadian marine energy innovation at its best,” said Vicky Sharpe, SDTC president and CEO.

The turbine was the world’s first ducted free-stream tidal power project, says SDTC: a 65kW turbine that was installed at an ecological reserve near Victoria, B.C. The project enabled the marine park to convert tidal stream energy to electric power, reducing dependence on two diesel generators.

It was the first sustained field testing of a new electricity-generating technology in Canada’s harsh marine environment, says SDTC, and now stands in the Technology Park as “an important artifact in Canada’s effort to harness the power of the ocean to generate electricity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions”.

“We are proud to display the Pearson College-EnCana-Clean Current tidal turbine as the latest large artifact to grace our Technology Park outside the Canada Science and Technology Museum,” said Fernand Proulx, interim president and CEO, Canada Science and Technology Museums Corp.

The turbine was unveiled as part of activities marking Let’s Talk Energy Week.