Before summer is over, Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC) will deploy its first commercial, grid-connected tidal energy device into Cobscook Bay, off the coast of Eastport, Maine. This represents the first tidal energy project in the United States with long-term contracts to sell electricity.

Leveraging a $10 million investment from the U.S. Department of Energy, the project has infused $14 million into the local economy and has supported more than 100 local and supply chain jobs.

In April, the Maine Public Utilities Commission approved primary contract terms for 20-year power purchase agreements (PPA) for the project, marking the first long-term tidal energy PPAs in the U.S. The commission’s order directs the three Maine investor-owned utilities – Central Maine Power Company, Bangor Hydro Electric and Maine Public Service Company – to negotiate these agreements with ORPC, helping to attract additional private investment as the project matures.

For the pilot phase of the project, Portland-based ORPC will deploy cross flow turbine devices in Cobscook Bay, at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy. These devices are designed to generate electricity over a range of water currents, capturing energy on both ebb and flood tides without the need for repositioning. 

ORPC expects to complete installation this summer and then go on to install four additional turbine devices by fall 2013. Once complete, the Cobscook Bay Tidal Energy Project is expected to generate enough electricity to power 75 to100 homes in surrounding Maine communities. 

After running and monitoring this initial project for a year, ORPC will expand its Maine project to nearby areas – installing additional power systems over the course of three years. The goal is to increase the project’s capacity to four megawatts (MW) – enough power to generate electricity for more than 1,000 Maine homes and businesses.

Tidal energy is a clean, renewable resource that can be harnessed wherever changing tides move a significant volume of water – including off the coasts of many U.S. cities where there is high electricity demand. Off the shores of Canada and Maine, the Bay of Fundy is one of the most robust tidal energy resources in the world. Each day, 100 billion tons of water flow in and out of the bay with the force of 8,000 locomotives and tidal ranges of up to 50 feet. Tides can also be forecast accurately, making tidal energy one of the most reliable and predictable renewable resources available.

Through the Energy Department’s early investment, ORPC has brought its tidal energy device from the laboratory to commercial deployment. The tidal energy devices, as well as many of the components, are being manufactured in the United States, strengthening American manufacturing competitiveness in this emerging global industry. Additionally, technical experts from the Department’s Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico and National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado collaborated with ORPC to conduct open water testing, refine designs and improve device performance.

“Developing America’s vast renewable energy resources is an important part of President Obama’s all-of-the-above energy strategy to create jobs and strengthen U.S. global competitiveness,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “The Eastport tidal energy project represents a critical investment to ensure America leads in this fast-growing global industry, helping to create new manufacturing, construction, and operation jobs across the country while diversifying our energy portfolio and reducing pollution.”

“Maine is well positioned to lead the nation in tidal energy development. The Cobscook Bay Tidal Energy Project is one example of the type of actions we need on a national scale to stabilize energy, prevent energy shortages, and achieve national energy independence. Continued investment and innovation in clean energy technologies are integral to advancing these goals,” said U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R). “I have worked hard to secure federal funding to support marine and hydrokinetic technology designed to deliver clean, reliable electricity to Maine consumers, and I am thrilled that the first commercial, grid-connected ocean energy project in the United States is being installed here in Maine.”

Earlier this year, the Energy Department released a nationwide tidal energy resource assessment, identifying about 250 terawatt hours of annual electric generation potential from tidal currents. Tidal power represents a major opportunity for new water power development in the United States, especially along the East Coast as well as in Alaska and Hawaii.

This energy potential could significantly contribute to the United States’ total annual electricity production, further diversifying the nation's energy portfolio and providing clean, renewable energy to coastal cities and communities.

For more information on tidal energy in the United States, visit the Energy Department’s Water Power Program website.

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