Aecon and Lengkeek Vessel Engineering win $25m contract in Cape Sharp Tidal project, Canada

Canadian construction company Aecon Group along with Marine Engineering firm Lengkeek Vessel Engineering has won a $25m contract from Cape Sharp Tidal project being built off the coast of Parrsboro, Nova Scotia.

The contracts have been awarded during the first round of procurement process of the Cape Sharp Tidal project, which is being developed by Cape Sharp Tidal a joint venture between Emera and OpenHydro.

Cape Sharp Tidal project will deploy a fully grid connected 4MW tidal array in the Bay of Fundy to generate energy for 1,000 customers in Nova Scotia.

Bay of Fundy’s tidal resource is reportedly one of the most powerful in the world. During the first phase of commercial scale project, Cape Sharp Tidal aims to generate power output of 300MW.

Under the contract, Aecon Group will develop a 1,150-ton capacity barge for OpenHydro, which will be used to set up turbines on to the seabed.

Aecon Group will also be fabricating the turbine components, and Lengkeek Vessel Engineering will be design of the barge for the Cape Sharp Tidal project.

OpenHydro CEO James Ives said: "The manufacture of a dedicated deployment barge is a major capital investment for OpenHydro that will also support Cape Sharp Tidal as we progress towards larger commercial scale tidal farms.

"We are committed to the development of a tidal energy industry in Nova Scotia and these contract awards demonstrate the potential of our industry to generate economic growth."

Nonprofit clean technology accelerator Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) previously awarded $6.3m to OpenHydro for the Cape Sharp Tidal project to refine its technology into a product that is ready for commercial rollout.

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Image: OpenHydro’s marine turbine. Photo : © DCNS 2014.