Haida Gwaii, BC-based Yourbrook Energy recently a launch event at the Port Clements Government Wharf, Haida Gwaii, on August 11 to demonstrate a tidal power prototype the company has developed and installed.
The company explains that at present, the north half of the Haida Gwaii power grid relies solely on diesel powered generators for the production of its electricity. The generators use approximately 10 million liters of diesel annually to provide power to a population base of 2,500 people, with diesels attendant cost, GHG emissions and potential for fuel spills.
While tidal power is an intermittent energy source (tidal activity slows to a halt at high and low tide cycles as the tides reverse direction), based on the high level of predictability of tidal flows, Yourbrook has developed a concept that creates firm (continuous) power from the intermittent tidal power source, by designing a unique system that could fully meet the needs of Haida Gwaii. The aim is not to augment the diesel generators, but to turn them off entirely.
To date, research for the project has been privately financed by Yourbrook, with supporting funds from the Canadian National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program ("IRAP"). Additional support will be coming from the Northern Development Initiative Trust ("NDIT").