Implementing and testing the first marine micro-grid system water-to-wire in a remote coastal community on Vancouver Island

Mavi is proceeding with the first commercial micro-grid tidal marine energy system in Canada. A 20-kW Darrius marine turbine will be operated water-to-wire in the remote community of at Blind Channel on Vancouver Island to displace diesel fuel as a source of power. This project will document and assess the first commercial demonstration of a grid connect marine turbine for a coastal community. There is significant interest to have communities reduce their dependence on imported diesel fuel. Distributed generation contributes to the viability and sustainability of such communities. This project will focus on resource assessment, turbine performance, turbine integration with the diesel genset and monitoring of the system. Mavi has tested their hydrokinetic turbine design in partnership with the University of Manitoba at the Canadian Hydrokinetic Turbine Testing Centre (CHTTC) located on the Winnipeg River. Mavi and the CHTTC will now assess the marine turbine performance and reliability in a commercial setting to displace diesel fuel in tidal applications with flows exceeding 3 m/s. This project will provide valuable data on the various aspects of this new marine technology and distributed energy application. The CHTTC will be applying its expertise gathered obtained in a riverine environment and working with MAVI.

Faculty Supervisor:

Eric Bibeau

Student:

Partner:

Mavi Innovations Inc

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Manitoba

Program: