Visit to FORCE (Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy)

On Thursday, we were heading to Prince Edward Island, but we decided to take a detour on our way to visit FORCE, the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy.

FORCE is outside of Parrsboro, Nova Scotia. About 6 weeks ago, when we came into Nova Scotia, we stopped at the welcome center (https://journeyinamazinggrace.blogspot.com/2023/05/continuing-east.html), and, when Carl asked about tidal energy being used, the lady there recommended that we visit FORCE.

I had contacted the centre a few days before to make sure that we would be able to bring Gracie into their lot -- the lady who responded let me know that there was a gravel road that may be potholed for about 4 miles getting to their location, but that we would be fine to park in their lot. I had looked for a place to park Gracie and just take the Jeep from Parrsboro, but really didn't find a place that we felt we could leave Gracie... so we drove down to the centre with Gracie and the Jeep. More on that in a later post!

It is a modest building with good information about what they are doing with regard to tidal energy research.

There was an array of solar panels outside - a partnership of the province and the municipality - allowing the power company to transfer power back into the grid. (Not used for powering anything at FORCE.)

One of the big responsibilities for FORCE is to evaluate the impact of the harvesting of energy on the environment around the devices.

There were a couple of models of types of devices used in monitoring the impact of tidal energy harvesting devices:

 

An example of the cable that has been laid to support the projects. For sense of scale the cable was about 6 inches in diameter.

Although we had had great views of the Minas Basin on our drive down, it got foggy as we got to FORCE so we really could not see the bay from there. You might try their webcam to see if you can see anything more at the time you're reading this: https://www.novascotiawebcams.com/en/webcams/fundy-ocean-research-center-for-energy/

Outside, there was weather information gathering equipment...

... as well as radar on top of the building. The radar is tuned to gather water current information - usually considered "noise" to radar, but is precisely the information they want to gather.

There was an array of solar panels outside - a partnership of the province and the municipality - allowing the power company to transfer power back into the grid. (Not used for powering anything at FORCE.)

Some information about the solar array at the site (not technically part of FORCE but on their site).

Their website has really great information to complete your view of FORCE: https://fundyforce.ca/about-us

They also have provided access to much of their data in real-time: https://fundyforcelive.ca/#!/