Biosciences Seminar Speaker 26 November 2015

Biosciences Seminar Series - Autumn 2015
26 November 2015 - 2pm - Zoology Museum (Wallace 129)

[Note Change of Time]

Tidal Power and the Bay of Fundy

Prof Graham R. Daborn

(Acadia Tidal Energy Institute & Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research, Canada)

from: geospatial.blogs.com

With the projects for Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon marching on (see here), this week's speaker couldn't be more relevant. Prof Graham R. Daborn, from Acadia University (Canada) is strongly involved in evaluating the environmental implications of marine renewable energy installations, especially those aimed at harnessing tidal currents in the Bay of Fundy, where the world's highest tides can be found. Graham currently works at the Acadia Tidal Energy Institute and is Board Member for Marine Renewables Canada, but previously was the founding Director of the Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research in 1985 and subsequently became also the first Director of the Academy for the Environment at Acadia University. Graham has a long-standing broad interest in the effects of human activities on estuaries and coastal waters.

Abstract

By any measure, the Bay of Fundy is an extraordinary ecosystem. Known for having the world's highest tides, it is also one of the most biologically productive coastal systems in North America. Through the movements of fish, birds and marine mammals that come to the Bay to feed, it is biologically connected to the Arctic, the Americas, Europe and the North and South Atlantic. 

Hopewell Rocks at the Bay of Fundy. From: Wikipedia

For more than 100 years the high tides have been considered for production of electricity: for most of this time the focus was on tidal range technologies, and the 20MW Annapolis Tidal Generating Station has been in operation since 1984; recent attention is focused on tidal stream devices, for which a major test facility is being developed in Minas Passage. This presentation will outline the biophysical features of the Bay of Fundy and discuss past and present initiatives for tidal power development using barrages, lagoons or arrays of tidal stream devices, with an emphasis on environmental issues.  

Hope to see many of you - everyone most welcome to attend!