Research to accelerate the development of river hydrokinetic, tidal and wave energy systems through marine energy resource assessment, mapping, and addressing environmental issues
Project location: CanmetENERGY Ottawa, Ottawa, ON.
Timeline: 5 years (2023 to 2028)
Program: Funded by the Program of Energy R&D
Marine Renewable Energy
Project Overview and Objectives
The CanmetENERGY-Ottawa Marine Energy project aims to conduct research and provide technical support to accelerate the growth of Marine Renewable Energy in Canada, advancing marine technologies to higher levels of readiness. The initiative focuses on river hydrokinetic, tidal current and wave energy technologies, with a goal of enhancing resource assessment tools and mapping, developing innovative technical solutions, and addressing environmental challenges. This project is conducted in collaboration with key stakeholders, including government agencies, research institutions, industry partners, and industry associations, ensuring a coordinated approach to advancing marine renewable energy in Canada.
Marine Renewable Energy Resource Assessment
Key activities within the Marine Renewable Energy Resource Assessment focus on completing and publishing enhanced datasets. More specifically, these activities include refining the Canada-wide river flow dataset through hydrological studies and machine learning, expanding datasets for high-potential energy locations using remote sensing to identify ice-free river reaches, conducting site characterization for selected areas to facilitate the demonstration and deployment of river hydrokinetic projects, and improving the accuracy of tidal current and wave energy density maps through field measurements and advanced numerical modeling techniques, all of which enhance resource assessment to support informed decision-making and project development.
Examples of river hydrokinetic energy datasets published by the Marine Renewable Energy team in 2024 on the Federal Geospatial Platform can be accessed here:
- Hydrokinetic Resource Mapping - Optical Satellite Imagery Analysis of Open Water Regions in Ice-Covered Canadian Rivers.
- Hydrokinetic Resource Assessment: Open Water Regions in Ice-Covered Rivers for Off-grid Diesel-Reliant Communities.
- Dataset of Open Water Areas in River Ice for Provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes - Potential Locations for River Hydrokinetic Energy Extraction Identified Through Optical Satellite Imagery.
Ecologically Responsible Technology Development
Additional project tasks aim to address both the environmental and ecological impacts of cavitation while improving the efficiency and lifespan of marine energy turbines. Our research focuses on laboratory cavitation testing and numerical modeling to develop effective prediction models for marine turbines. By enhancing turbine performance and mitigating cavitation's harmful effects on marine life, including larger mammals affected by noise, we seek to reduce its impact on marine ecosystems.
Leveraging work undertaken by the Wind Energy Team at CanmetENERGY-Ottawa to collect metocean data, the team will seek to maximize synergies and apply relevant data to tidal and wave energy. In addition, we also investigate the effects of large-scale offshore wind farms structures and other renewable energy technologies on localized marine areas. Using advanced numerical modeling, we will assess how these technologies could influence ocean and water currents and conditions, which, in turn, may affect the ecosystem and marine life.
International Energy Agency Technology Collaboration Programme Support
CanmetENERGY-Ottawa actively participates in international research through the International Energy Agency (IEA) Technology Collaboration Programmes (TCP). Resulting outputs from IEA TCP research projects provide key information, tools, references and overall leverage for CanmetENERGY’s marine energy technology R&D activities.
The Marine Renewable Energy project actively supports participation on the Executive Committee of the following IEA TCP:
Impact and Innovations
The outcomes of this project will include the development of resource assessment datasets for enhanced river flow, identified locations, site characterization for selected sites, and refined tidal current and wave datasets. Additionally, the project will explore the impact of offshore renewable technologies on local marine ecosystems, using advanced modeling to assess their effects on ocean currents and marine life. The project will support public, utility, and industrial initiatives, while also providing valuable insights to inform marine renewable energy policy and potential programs.
Contact CanmetENERGY in Ottawa
To learn more about this project, email our Business Office.