Marine Renewable Energy in Nova Scotia

Transcription

1 Marine Renewable Energy in Nova Scotia The Importance of Planning Certainty and Reliability for Sustainable Economic Development May 30, 2011 Sandra Farwell Manager, Sustainable & Renewable Energy Nova Scotia Department of Energy

2 Comparison of NS s MRE Potential MRE Type Tidal Theoretical Energy Potential 2,500 MW (Bay of Fundy) Wave Unknown *Offshore Wind 60,000 MW Onshore Wind 60, 000 MW Inventory of Canada s Marine Renewable Energy Resources, Canadian Hydraulics Centre Nova Scotia Wind Atlas, Universite De Moncton * estimation for offshore wind potential within 10km of shore

3 Wind Speeds in Nova Scotia Reference: WEST System completed for Environment Canada

4 Wave Power Off Nova Scotia s Coast Reference: National Research Council Canada Canadian Hydraulic Centre

5 Tidal Energy in Nova Scotia Source: NRC-CHC publication, 2006

6 Vision: Develop a marine renewable energy sector built on the region s needs, opportunities and strengths and to play a lead in the international development of marine renewable energy.

7 Tidal Development Plan : 5 MW Planning for the build-out of tidal arrays likely : Potential for arrays of MW. Under current environmental legislation, moving to arrays will require a comprehensive environmental assessment that could go to panel review.

8 Atlantic Energy Gateway - economic modeling of 50 MW of tidal by 2020 and 300 MW by 2025.

9 Tidal Development Plan : Difficult to pinpoint where the tidal industry will be years from now. Best Case Scenario- could reach a range of MW from tidal energy. Industrial scale development- concentration of effort in the Minas and Cumberland basins. Community scale- distribution connected tidal in areas such as Brier Island, and potentially others.

10 How much ocean space is needed? Footprint of each technology is different. Large scale industrial could be located anywhere in Minas Basin or Cumberland basin with some buffer space TBD.

11 Is a planning regime needed?

12 The Yes a Local planning regime Challenge is needed. Broad SEA for anywhere Community decisions to pursue local options Provincial site planning and consultation for large-scale EA at the appropriate levels

13 Why we need a planning regime? To promote open and transparent governance Informs industry of appropriate development sites and enables more effective forward planning. Allows industry to manage risk by increasing certainty in respect of development proposals.

14 Why we need a planning regime? Enables Strategic Overview Government, industry and stakeholder collaboration on site locations Plans for increasing number and scale of development Integrates interests of different stakeholders

15 What kind of assessment is needed to support development off NS? Resource Assessment Agenda now underway revised modeling is being undertaken, further information is being collected on the resource in the Minas Passage and new data will be collected around SWNS. Environmental research Robust monitoring Environmental Monitoring Advisory Committee (EMAC) Basic Research Underway (OEER) Tidal resource assessment; sediment dynamics; animal behaviour; near and far-field effects; effects of ice and debris; potential effects of tidal lagoons

16 ESSIM stakeholder process? Not appropriate framework for discussing marine renewables ESSIM does not focus on area of interest for marine renewables Group of stakeholders not applicable Coastlines are the focus of offshore wind- much more provincial involvement (provincial lead rather than federal?) Should focus more on community local planning engagement rather than interest groups Need to focus on industry development timelines ESSIM process is slow.

17 What does industry need from other ocean users? Input into Strategic Environmental Assessment Engagement need to devote time and effort into the process especially industrial-scale areas Sharing of information two way communication and collaborative planning.

18 Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Assesses impacts of proposed development policies, plans and programs; Promotes public participation in broad environmental policy-making; Identifies and predicts cumulative impacts of broad governmental programs; Applied early in the formulation of proposals when major alternatives and options are still open.

19 SEA recommendations 29 recommendations based on stakeholder input Province responded to all 29 recommendations

20 Benefits of SEA Increased efficiency for project based assessment; Regional baseline and monitoring support; Framework for public involvement and broader public debate; Futures oriented approach; Encourages consideration of alternatives.

21 How should a MSP process be designed? Very adaptive: Community scale projects throughout NS on tidal. Key resource areas such as Minas and Cumberland basin will be areas of greatest interest by larger scale projects.

22 Principles of an MSP process Sustainable development of ocean resources Collection of environmental baseline data Opportunity for meaningful input Flexibility Adaptive management principles applied Integration of objectives among users Needs to move forward expeditiously

23 Thank you.