Canada’s First Tidal Energy Array Authorized Using Adaptive Regulatory Framework

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has issued a Fisheries Act Authorization to Eauclaire Tidal Ltd. to deploy up to three Orbital Marine Power Ltd (Orbital) O2-X tidal energy devices at the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE). This marks the first project to proceed under Canada’s revised, staged approach for tidal stream energy development—an adaptive regulatory framework designed to ensure both environmental protection and investor clarity.

DFO’s Staged Approach, resulting from the federal Tidal Task Force on Sustainable Tidal Energy Development led by DFO and Natural Resources Canada, enables projects to begin with a single device and monitoring, followed by additional deployments informed by ongoing environmental data collection, interpretation and analysis.

Under the authorization, Eauclaire and Orbital will install up to three floating O2-X turbines within the FORCE test area in Minas Passage. Each O2-X unit generates about 2.5 megawatts—enough to power 2,000 homes. Collectively, the array will deliver 7.5 megawatts to Nova Scotia’s grid.

DFO’s authorization outlines clear requirements