Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
u
Rising Tides
in Canada
The Bay of Fundy sits between Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick, Canada. The tides there are the highest in the
world. From low tide to high tide, the bay's waters can rise as
much as 50 feet (15 meters). About 100 billion tons (90.7
billion metric tons) of water move through the bay every day.
That is more than the water fl owing in all the world's rivers.
That much moving water means the Bay of Fundy is a perfect
site for creating electricity from the tides.
People have discussed the idea for years. In 1984, a local
power company began using a barrage in the bay to power a
generator. Electricity was generated, however, only when the
tides were falling. In 2009, the same company began work to
install its fi rst tidal turbine. The turbine can generate power
when the tides rise and when they fall. This turbine will create
only a small amount
of power, but if it
works well, many more
turbines will be put in
place. The turbines may
be the best hope for
creating large amounts
of energy from the Bay
of Fundy.
An experimental tidal power
station on the Bay of Fundy.
