Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific operates one of the few tidal energy systems in the world. The college runs a small marine biology education and research in an Ecological Reserve on a now automated Canadian Coast Guard Station at Race Rocks. The project was developed as a response to the environmental and economic costs of using diesel generators for power. The Race Rocks tidal energy project was developed as a partnership between Pearson College, Clean Current Power Systems, Encana Corp. and Sustainable Development Technology Canada. The 65kW tidal current turbine, which started generating power in 2006, is an experimental pilot project. The tidal power project has helped leverage further funding for a solar photovoltaic system (made possible with funding from the British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources). Work is currently underway to assess the potential of augmenting the system with small-scale wind power, which would make it the first such integrated energy system in North America. The project has already dramatically reduced the dependence of island operations on diesel generation and ultimately aims to eliminate it.

For more information: www.racerocks.com/racerock/energy/tidalenergy/tidalenergy2.htm