CTV News Montreal

Updated: Tue Jul. 27 2010 2:45:31 PM

ctvmontreal.ca

The mighty St. Lawrence River will soon be home to a power-generating pilot project that could one day churn in rivers across Canada.

The company that builds the underwater river turbines says the test phase will start off small, producing enough energy to power 750 homes.

"It's a bit like a windmill sitting on the bed of the river, so the water (goes) through the turbine and then it produces electricity because of the movement of the turbine," explained Georges Dick, president of RSW Inc.

Dick says the technology has huge potential in Canada's biggest waterways, including the Mackenzie, Peace and Fraser rivers.

"It can be sustainable with reasonable costs, so it's part of the solution to reduce our greenhouse gases," said Federal Natural Resources Minister Christian Paradis.

The federal and provincial governments are funding one-third of the $18 million project.

Paradis says it's a low-cost, renewable energy source that will create hundreds of jobs.

Paradis insists the spinning blades inside the three-metre-high turbines will not have an impact on underwater wildlife.

Energy expert Philip Raphals of energy research group the Helios Centre said previous studies have shown the impact is minor.

"There are potentially issues where you're getting into fish and underwater life, but presumably those will be studied and so far similar technolgies have not shown any serious problems," Raphals said.

The pilot project will see two turbines plunked into water off the shores of Montreal in the coming weeks.

Quebec hopes to eventually use the technology to power its northern communities, which rely heavily on polluting diesel-fuelled generators.

"The diesel energy is not appropriate in this environmental context, and this project proposes a solution for the challenges for the Inuit communities," said Quebec Resources Minister Nathalie Normandeau.

With a report from The Canadian Press

Comments are now closed for this story

Jocelyne
Why don't they put a cage around it so the fish won't go near it. The underwater life is already suffering enough as it is. With oil spills - no more red tuna - balukas having cancer - cod is not as big as it use to be. They don't give it time to multiply and they are fish out of the waters. When there is nothing left in the waters. What will they do. It is so sad.

Chriw
All they would need to do is install a screen/grate ahead of the entrance to the turbine. They would have to be cleaned once in a while though...

Stefano
Great idea, already implemented in the US. I wonder if the St. Lawrence cat fish will like it? Sliced and diced!

mike
"There are potentially issues where you're getting into fish and underwater life, but presumably those will be studied and so far similar technolgies have not shown any serious problems"

anyone else notice the word "presumably".. makes you wonder.. so you're plunking those in, but you're hoping someone else did the study? great job quebec government.

JohnInMtl
The Saint-Lawrence river has enough junk in it without adding more. The Quebec government, through the Ministry of Transport, has already clogged most of the highways into and out of Montreal. Now they want to do the same with our main waterway! If it is to benefit Northern Quebec, the tests should take place there under the same harsh conditions imposed by nature in the North. You better believe it will have an impact on fish and underwater life and no environment impact studies have been performed otherwise why would they say presumably those studies will be done.