Annual Report 2016
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Country Reports

CANADA

Monika Knowles and Ghanashyam Ranjitkar Natural Resources Canada

IEC TC 114
Canada has been actively engaged in the standards development process for marine renewable energy since the inception of the International Electrotechnical Commission Technical Committee 114 (IEC TC114) in 2007, which is the international standards organization for marine and river hydrokinetic energy. The Canadian sub-committee, in collaboration with external partners, has completed 11 research projects investigating key questions to support standard development in wave energy, tidal energy, and river hydrokinetic energy systems. The net result of these efforts includes the publication of 8 technical specifications, with many others currently being drafted.
 

NEW INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS
In November 2016, the Offshore Energy Research Association of Nova Scotia (OERA) and France Energies Marines (FEM) signed a memorandum of understanding to encourage joint research to develop new and innovative cost-reduction technologies and environmental effects monitoring for high-flow tidal environments. As a result of this MOU, a joint research call will be launched in 2017.


INTER-PROVINCIAL INITIATIVES
The province of Nova Scotia and the province of British Columbia have a signed memorandum of understanding on marine renewable energy – to further develop a cooperative approach to its respective marine energy development goals, which includes working with Nova Scotia’s OERA.


BRITISH COLUMBIA’S INDUSTRIAL MARINE PROJECT
The province of BC is investing $200,000 in a partnership with the Association of British Columbia Marine Industries’ (ABCMI) that will expand economic opportunities for the industrial marine sector. The goals of the “BC Industrial Marine Project” are to develop a baseline assessment and estimate of the marine sector’s economic impact, identify opportunities for marine sector growth for the near and long term, and serve as a platform to support increased productivity and competiveness for future industrial marine activities. ABCMI has a mandate to bring together key stakeholders and work as a coordinated, representative voice to strengthen the BC industrial marine sector and champion its growth. The project will support a better understanding of the scope, capabilities, capacity, and characteristics of its broad industrial marine membership base including shipbuilding, refit, and ship repair; small craft marine; marine products; ocean science and technology (including marine renewable energy); marine industrial services; and marine professional services.


BRITISH COLUMBIA’S ROAD MAPPING EXERCISE
The BC Ministry of Energy & Mines is exploring a marine renewable energy initiative to support future development of innovative energy generating technologies. A road mapping exercise supported by the ICE Fund is underway to inform the full scope of stakeholders and to ensure the required consultations on this opportunity. A consultant is currently interviewing individuals across relevant areas of the public sector and stakeholder communities to develop a better understanding of the opportunity. This initiative has many touch points for stakeholders including: Environmental considerations; Energy and utilities; Economic development; Technology and innovation; and International access. The Road Mapping is expected to be completed in early 2017.


CENTRE FOR OCEAN VENTURES AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
COVE is a collaborative facility based in Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia for applied innovation in the ocean sector. Their mission it to propel the ocean economy by providing high quality marine infrastructure and a collaborative space in which a community of ocean enterprises can start, grow and prosper. Their primary goal is support ocean technology commercialization. The collaborative space at COVE will be home to local and global ocean technology businesses, start-ups, researchers, marine-based and service businesses that support the ocean technology sector.


CONFERENCES
The Marine Renewables Canada Annual Conference will be held in the fall 2017, Ottawa, Ontario.