Tidal Power Generation

Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Energy Minister Says Nova Scotia's Tidal Power Decisions Have No Impact on NB











(Energy Minister Jack Keir - file photo)

Energy Minister Jack Keir says Nova Scotia's decision on whether it will okay more development in tidal power generation will have no bearing on New Brunswick. An announcement between Ottawa and Nova Scotia is expected as early as this week on whether three companies will be approved to place turbines in the Bay of Fundy. Keir tells CHSJ news there would be no competition between the provinces.

Irving Oil and Huntsman Marine Science Centre are collecting data on how much energy can be generated in the Bay and what type of equipment should be used. Keir says it will be more than a year before that data is collected.
Posted by CHSJ News at 10:40 AM

The world’s very first floating fullscale offshore wind turbine has officially been inaugurated in the North Sea off the coast of Norway.
The turbine even has a name: Hywind. It measures 213 feet tall and weighs 5,300 tonnes, and it rests on a floating stand which is filled with water and rocks to provide balast. Three powerful cables anchor the stand to the seafloor.

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nowBuzz up!StatoilHydro, the corporate energy giant which owns Hywind, plans to use it as a test for the next two years before building any more floating wind turbines. But if everything runs smoothly, they hope to set up floating turbines around the world for international partners, locations which are likely to include California, Japan, South Korea and Spain.

The biggest advantage to floating turbines is that they can operate out at sea at depths between 120 and 700 metres, much deeper than conventional offshore turbines. Winds are usually much stronger in deeper seas, meaning the new technology could also generate a lot more power.

And for those people who find wind turbines aesthetically unpleasing, floating turbines put further out to sea also mean they’ll be out of sight.

Currently floating turbines are significantly more expensive to build, but due to their many advantages, StatoilHydro believes that the costs should come down over time. “Our goal is to bring down the price to the level of fixed wind turbines that are currently installed in waters some 60 metres deep,” said Anne Stroemmen Lycke from StatoilHydro.

Hywind should begin fanning over the North Sea and generating electricity within the next couple of weeks.

Source: Physorg

MLA Re: turbine issue

Subject: Re: Digby Wind Turbine project


Dear Mr. Mills,





Thank you for your messages regarding the wind turbine project in Digby.





As you are aware, the Environment Minister has approved the wind turbine
project on Digby Neck. The minister did include consideration of some
requests we made, specifically, requiring a mechanism for dealing with noise
complaints.

The minister did not approve three turbines deemed to be questionable in
terms of location relative to residences, although it is expected a new
application for these three turbines will be forthcoming in the coming
months with new locations.





As you are aware from your experience, the responsibility for zoning and
siting of turbines is a municipal one. I am disappointed that the current
government has not already engaged the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities
in establishing clear and uniform guidelines and planning legislation for
locating turbines. Consistency and clarity would benefit both residents, who
must deal with projects individually, and the renewable energy industry.





The Liberal Caucus met and discussed the Digby Wind Turbine project, and
other wind projects in general, on Wednesday afternoon. We are concerned
that the lack of clear guidelines and uniformity in regulations hurt both
residents and the industry. We also are concerned about the difficulty you
have had in getting information throughout this process.





I recognize that while we achieved some improvements through the EA, you and
many of the other residents, will still not be happy with the outcome. I am
prepared to bring any specific concerns or questions to the attention of the
company, to ensure any additional efforts the company can make to minimize
impact are given consideration even though the project is approved.





As the House of Assembly prepares to begin sitting for its fall session, I
will be calling on the government to do the necessary work and engage
residents and the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities in establishing clear
and consistent rules for wind turbine projects. I welcome any input you may
have.


Sincerely,



Andrew Younger

MLA Dartmouth East



Liberal Energy / Environment Critic

Oversight Agency for Wind Farms

Here is the real question. As shown there are real gaps in the HGC study
and there is more than enough basis for at the very least a "review" of the
HGC report and then mitigation should follow. "Where would a Canadian
Citizen go for such mitigation?" Simple question but can anyone supply an
answer?
From everything I have researched I can find absolutely not one agency, not
one single person in the Provincial or Federal Government where one can go
for help!
Our Provincial and Federal Governments have effectively dismantled any
oversight agency and eliminated any law or statute that would previously
have protected us from a "runaway" industry such as Wind.
The only law over development that we had left was at the Municipal level
under the Planning Act and now in Ontario that is gone!


Basically we are on our own with a huge industry all financed by our very
own hard earned tax dollars "putting the boots to us"..............What are
we going to do about it?...........there's another question that needs
answering.
Regards
Carl

Wind Concerns Coalition

Please welcome a new group to the coalition:

NVoIWT (Norfolk Victims of Industrial Wind Turbines)

E-mail: NVoIWT@live.com

Contact: Bert Seeliger - Clear Creek, Ontario