Wolfville, NS, September 1, 2011 –
Acadia University today announced the formation of the Acadia
Tidal Energy Institute. This Institute is the only research institute in
North America focused solely on assessing tidal energy resources and
the associated environmental challenges and socio-economic
opportunities.
Strategically
located on the Bay of Fundy’s Minas Basin, the Acadia Tidal Energy
Institute will develop partnerships and
lead multi-disciplinary research projects and other initiatives that
address knowledge gaps associated with the developing tidal energy
industry. The Institute will focus on tidal energy resource assessment,
environmental monitoring and impacts, socio-economic
growth, sustainable communities, and the development and delivery of tidal energy educational programs and other support materials.
“Acadia
is fortunate to be located immediately adjacent to a world class
renewable energy resource and to have leading researchers involved
in various aspects of tidal energy development among its faculty,” said
Dr. Tom Herman, Acadia’s Vice-President Academic. “There is little doubt
that the Bay of Fundy will contribute to reducing Nova Scotia’s carbon
footprint and Acadia, through its public
and private sector partnerships, will play a significant role. Acadia
has a long history in tidal energy research and has a core group of
highly regarded faculty who will lead research in areas crucial to the
long range success of the tidal energy sector.”
The
work of the Institute will be driven by new and existing internal,
cross-disciplinary
clusters of expertise from within all Faculties at Acadia, and will
include researchers with expertise in oceanography, energy resource
modeling, marine ecology, sustainable environments and communities,
economics and finance. Acadia has been strategically
investing in faculty resources and infrastructure to build capacity in
tidal energy research. Faculty and students associated with these
clusters will work closely with collaborators from all three levels of
government, industry, non-governmental organizations,
communities, and other academic institutions to facilitate
capacity building and further understanding of the available tidal
energy resources, environmental effects, and socio-economic
opportunities, particularly in local
rural communities.
“This
is an exciting time to be involved in tidal energy research and the
testing of commercial in-stream tidal energy devices” said Dr.
Anna Redden, Director of the Tidal Energy Institute. “Our understanding
of the potential for harvesting locally available tidal energy and the
likely environmental effects and socio-economic benefits has been
rapidly growing. Our goal for the Institute is to
help Nova Scotia address its renewable energy targets, and to establish
this province as a global leader in tidal energy–related knowledge and
expertise.”
Compared
to many other energy sources, tidal energy is clean, predictable and
available for harvesting most of the time. With some of the
world’s best tidal energy sites, Nova Scotia has a unique opportunity to
develop a sustainable tidal energy industry. In particular, the Bay of
Fundy tides represent an enormous resource of untapped renewable
energy, with the potential to contribute significantly
to Nova Scotia’s ambitious renewable energy targets of 40% by 2020.
Acadia’s link to tidal power development stretches back to 1915, when Acadia professor
Ralph Clarkson
developed an innovative proposal to harvest tidal energy from the Minas
Channel at Cape Split. At that time, energy development was focused on
readily available and relatively inexpensive fossil fuels. Clarkson’s
renewable energy scheme was never realized.
Subsequent
periodic escalations in the price of fossil fuels generated renewed
interest in harnessing tidal energy. Studies on the tidal
power potential and the environmental implications of development
continued and, in 1984, the first and only tidal power plant in North
America was installed at Annapolis Royal. Since that time, faculty and
students from the Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research
have played significant roles in addressing the environmental impacts of
tidal energy. In 2009, Acadia faculty spearheaded the formation of the Fundy Energy Research Network, a
regional tidal energy research forum for fostering collaborative efforts
and information exchange between universities, government institutions,
community groups and industry. Acadia’s new Tidal Energy Institute
will build on its long history of research activity
and engagement with the Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy and other
tidal energy initiatives.
For further information, contact Dr. Anna Redden, the Director of the Acadia Tidal Energy Institute, at tidalenergy@acadiau.ca
or by telephone at 902-585-1732.
Wolfville, NS, September 1, 2011 –
Acadia University today announced the formation of the Acadia
Tidal Energy Institute. This Institute is the only research institute in
North America focused solely on assessing tidal energy resources and
the associated environmental challenges and socio-economic
opportunities.
Strategically
located on the Bay of Fundy’s Minas Basin, the Acadia Tidal Energy
Institute will develop partnerships and
lead multi-disciplinary research projects and other initiatives that
address knowledge gaps associated with the developing tidal energy
industry. The Institute will focus on tidal energy resource assessment,
environmental monitoring and impacts, socio-economic
growth, sustainable communities, and the development and delivery of tidal energy educational programs and other support materials.
“Acadia
is fortunate to be located immediately adjacent to a world class
renewable energy resource and to have leading researchers involved
in various aspects of tidal energy development among its faculty,” said
Dr. Tom Herman, Acadia’s Vice-President Academic. “There is little doubt
that the Bay of Fundy will contribute to reducing Nova Scotia’s carbon
footprint and Acadia, through its public
and private sector partnerships, will play a significant role. Acadia
has a long history in tidal energy research and has a core group of
highly regarded faculty who will lead research in areas crucial to the
long range success of the tidal energy sector.”
The
work of the Institute will be driven by new and existing internal,
cross-disciplinary
clusters of expertise from within all Faculties at Acadia, and will
include researchers with expertise in oceanography, energy resource
modeling, marine ecology, sustainable environments and communities,
economics and finance. Acadia has been strategically
investing in faculty resources and infrastructure to build capacity in
tidal energy research. Faculty and students associated with these
clusters will work closely with collaborators from all three levels of
government, industry, non-governmental organizations,
communities, and other academic institutions to facilitate
capacity building and further understanding of the available tidal
energy resources, environmental effects, and socio-economic
opportunities, particularly in local
rural communities.
“This
is an exciting time to be involved in tidal energy research and the
testing of commercial in-stream tidal energy devices” said Dr.
Anna Redden, Director of the Tidal Energy Institute. “Our understanding
of the potential for harvesting locally available tidal energy and the
likely environmental effects and socio-economic benefits has been
rapidly growing. Our goal for the Institute is to
help Nova Scotia address its renewable energy targets, and to establish
this province as a global leader in tidal energy–related knowledge and
expertise.”
Compared
to many other energy sources, tidal energy is clean, predictable and
available for harvesting most of the time. With some of the
world’s best tidal energy sites, Nova Scotia has a unique opportunity to
develop a sustainable tidal energy industry. In particular, the Bay of
Fundy tides represent an enormous resource of untapped renewable
energy, with the potential to contribute significantly
to Nova Scotia’s ambitious renewable energy targets of 40% by 2020.
Acadia’s link to tidal power development stretches back to 1915, when Acadia professor
Ralph Clarkson
developed an innovative proposal to harvest tidal energy from the Minas
Channel at Cape Split. At that time, energy development was focused on
readily available and relatively inexpensive fossil fuels. Clarkson’s
renewable energy scheme was never realized.
Subsequent
periodic escalations in the price of fossil fuels generated renewed
interest in harnessing tidal energy. Studies on the tidal
power potential and the environmental implications of development
continued and, in 1984, the first and only tidal power plant in North
America was installed at Annapolis Royal. Since that time, faculty and
students from the Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research
have played significant roles in addressing the environmental impacts of
tidal energy. In 2009, Acadia faculty spearheaded the formation of the Fundy Energy Research Network, a
regional tidal energy research forum for fostering collaborative efforts
and information exchange between universities, government institutions,
community groups and industry. Acadia’s new Tidal Energy Institute
will build on its long history of research activity
and engagement with the Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy and other
tidal energy initiatives.
For further information, contact Dr. Anna Redden, the Director of the Acadia Tidal Energy Institute, at tidalenergy@acadiau.ca
or by telephone at 902-585-1732.
About AcadiaAcadia University, in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, has long been recognized as one of Canada’s premier post-secondary institutions. With its nationally and internationally recognized undergraduate and graduate research initiatives, small classes and technology-rich teaching and learning environment, Acadia offers students an experience that includes academic achievement combined with personal growth and development. Acadia also offers distance learning, certificate programs, language training and other university extension programs through Open Acadia. For more information about Acadia University, visit our website at www.acadiau.ca.