Ocean Energy

The oceans contain enormous quantities of resources with market potential for clean, renewable, and sustainable energy. Ocean can be captured in different ways. Two of the most important sources are marine currents, which are caused by tidal effects and by differences in temperature and salinity, and wind waves, which are generated by wind blowing on the ocean surface.

Canadian businesses are focussing their efforts on the development of a new generation of ocean energy technologies, with the goal of harnessing Canada’s plentiful coastal resources. Ocean energy technologies represent an interesting opportunity on the emerging world market for clean, renewable, and sustainable energy. These technologies make it possible to access a reliable and ecological source of energy.

Ocean energy technologies are relatively new. They are not yet economically competitive compared to other sources of renewable energy, in particular wind energy. Nonetheless, interest continues to grow, and accomplishments in research and development are expected to make these technologies commercially available in the near future.

Some Important Facts about the Industry

• The Ocean Renewable Energy Group is a cooperative effort joining industry, universities, and governments to promote research and development in the field of ocean technologies. This Canadian organization is working to ensure that Canada is established as a leading presence in the global market for the sector.
• The experimental tidal energy plant at Annapolis Royal, on the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia, has been in operation since 1984, and is the only one of its kind in North America. The plant is one of the first, and largest, constructed to capture tidal energy. It was designed as an experimental facility, and has a production capacity of 20 MW. In addition, the Annapolis Royal plant uses the largest straight-flow turbine in the world, capable of generating more than 30 GWh of electricity per year.
• Because it is similar to conventional hydroelectric systems, tidal energy is the first ocean energy technology to reach maturity for energy production. The location of sites where tidal energy can be harnessed is limited by the concentration of energy required (tides of at least 5 metres) so that energy production costs can be kept competitive.
• A study conducted by BC Hydro in 2002 showed that the potential for energy generated by marine currents greater than 2.0 m/s is 2224 MW in British Columbia. This reflects power generated by the marine current rather than the power generated by turbine capacity. The sites assessed vary from 0.1 MW to 600 MW.
• That same study showed that the current cost for production of electricity from a maximum current of 3.5 m/s varies from 11 ¢/kWh to 25 ¢/kWh. As current technology develops, it is likely that costs will drop to 5 from 7 ¢/kWh over the next few years.