Taming the Tides: BigMoon Power's Bold Bid for Fundy's Energy

Nova Scotia's Bay of Fundy, a geological marvel renowned for its colossal tides, has long beckoned as a potential powerhouse of clean energy. Yet, its immense force has also proven a formidable foe, claiming the ambitions of several tidal power ventures. Now, a new player, BigMoon Power, is stepping into the challenging arena, bringing fresh hope and a strategic plan to finally harness Fundy's relentless energy.

At the helm of BigMoon Power is Lynn Blodgett, a tech entrepreneur with a history of success in the software industry.

Instead of starting from scratch, Blodgett’s innovative approach focuses on breathing new life into existing infrastructure. His company plans to acquire and significantly modify a turbine that once belonged to the ill-fated Cape Sharp Tidal project – a venture that ended abruptly with the bankruptcy of its Irish partner, OpenHydro.

This turbine, a testament to past ambitions and setbacks, currently sits dormant on a vessel at the Halifax Port Authority.

The journey to capture Fundy's power is fraught with peril. The Bay's extraordinary tides, which can fluctuate by up to 16 metres, create one of the most hostile marine environments on Earth.

This intense hydrokinetic energy, while abundant, presents enormous engineering and logistical challenges. Previous attempts, like Cape Sharp Tidal, deployed massive, multi-megawatt turbines with gravity-based foundations, but struggled with deployment, maintenance, and ultimately, financial stability.

BigMoon Power's strategy diverges from these earlier models.

Blodgett envisions transforming the acquired turbine into a bottom-mounted, flow-through system. This design aims to simplify installation and reduce the significant risks associated with deploying and retrieving large, complex structures in the Bay's tumultuous waters. The modified turbine is intended for deployment at the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE) site, a prime testing ground for tidal technologies near Parrsboro.

Blodgett, who is personally funding BigMoon Power, acknowledges the monumental task ahead but remains undeterred by the industry's past failures.

He emphasizes a cautious, step-by-step approach, focusing on rigorous testing and validation of the modified technology. The goal isn't just to produce electricity, but to demonstrate a viable, cost-effective, and robust method for tidal energy extraction that can withstand Fundy's unique conditions.

While the prospect of clean, renewable energy from the Bay of Fundy is immensely appealing, the path forward is complex.

BigMoon Power must navigate a labyrinth of regulatory approvals from various federal and provincial bodies, ensuring environmental safety and operational compliance. Blodgett is optimistic about deploying a modified turbine within a year or two, pending these critical approvals.

Nova Scotia, with its ambitious renewable energy targets, watches with keen interest.

The success of BigMoon Power could not only unlock a massive untapped energy resource but also provide a much-needed boost of confidence for the global tidal energy sector. It's a story of perseverance, innovation, and the enduring human quest to harmonize with nature's most powerful forces, hoping to turn past lessons into future triumphs in the Bay of Fundy.