Marine Renewable Energy in Canada: A Century of Consideration and Challenges

Abstract

There should be little doubt that the world needs to diminish its dependence upon fossil fuels for electricity generation. Marine renewable energy (mre), in the forms of offshore wind, tidal, wave, or ocean thermal energy, remains the largest under-exploited energy source, with the potential to supply more than the total electricity demand in the world. It is estimated that the global wave energy resource alone is about 32,000 terawatt hours (TWh) per year, compared with the global electricity supply of ~24,000 TWh per year in 2014.1 Global potential for tidal power could be up to 1,000 TWh per year.2 The various mre technologies differ significantly in their readiness for large-scale exploitation. The most mature technology is that of offshore wind generation, which has evolved from extensive experience on land. The least mature is wave energy generation, numerous devices for which are still in early developmental stages. Mechanical energy from tides is a centuries-old technology based upon impoundment of tidal waters, and barrage-based installations (the tidal range approach) for electricity generation has been considered in Canada (the Bay of Fundy) and Europe for more than 100 years. One turbine installed in a dam at