Quick Fact: OPALCO Tidal Energy Pilot Project

In 2024, OPALCO was awarded a grant from Department of Energy to continue feasibility studies for a tidal generator in Rosario Strait. During this period, it will be determined if a tidal energy project in San Juan County could move to full development. With an earlier grant, OPALCO and project partners explored siting of a ~2 MW floating tidal stream Orbital Marine Power turbine in our area. The Rosario Strait was identified as a viable site with strong tidal flows in proximity to OPALCO infrastructure for interconnection, with minimal environmental impacts.

As impacts of climate change and legislation drive up the costs of green power, OPALCO is committed to exploring local, renewable energy sources. With water being 800 times the density of air, tidal stream energy is to the northwest what solar is to the southwest. While solar is minimal in the winter, tidal power is strong and predictable year-round, but more importantly, it can be firmed with a small fraction of the storage solar or wind would require.

It will provide 5GWh of annual generation serving approximately 400 homes based on annual average usage in San Juan County.

This is a competitive grant through DOE for $3M. Based on the outcomes of the yearlong grant, our project could be selected to receive more grant funds and advance to the next phases.

A feasibility study is a way to evaluate whether or not this project could be successful. For this project it will include:

• Environmental site study for physical and biological data that includes currents, turbulence, waves, ambient sound, water quality, fish tag receiver, sea spider, stable moor
• Environmental risk register using a third-party objective analysis that evaluates key issues the project will face
• Draft License Application to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
• Community outreach

• PNNL Report on Tidal Energy in San Juan County
• Orcas Power and Light Cooperative Tidal Preliminary Assessment and Planning Project (Washington State Department of Commerce Clean Energy Fund)
• Orbital Marine has done studies as part of their siting and permitting process. You can see some of the information in the link below. You will find a map of their project, permit application, dredging/drilling details, navigational risk assessment, project monitoring program, and project information document. Every location will have slightly different environmental factors and each area needs to be looked at individually. https://marine.gov.scot/node/24693

The full cost of the project is still being determined. OPALCO only plans to move forward with the project if it is financially feasible and doesn’t affect OPALCO member rates. We would need to get grant funding for this project to move forward.

Orbital Marine is a company out of Scotland that has installed this unit in the Orkney Islands. This is a similar marine environment to the San Juan Islands. They have successfully been generating electricity from their O2 since 2021.

No, if this project were to move forward a unit based on the O2 unit design would be manufactured in the US and installed in the water at that time.

The site environmental study does have monitoring devices that will be submerged in the proposed location. This equipment will be underwater for a limited amount of time and will give us important information on tidal flow and marine wildlife. However, during the feasibility phase there are no plans to install any power generating infrastructure.

A FERC preliminary permit is an initial step, and it lets us have first priority in applying for a license for the project that is being studied. It does not allow for any specific work to be done – it is a step to ensure the study of the project’s feasibility. If the project is found feasible then we can use the data and info gathered to prepare an application for a license and then would need permits to get specific work done.

Here is the link to our Preliminary Permit Docket Number P-15368-000: https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/search.

OPALCO has been working with local, state, and federal agencies for permitting and environmental requirements. The team is meeting with Tribal Nations to get feedback and share information throughout the project.

We are doing feasibility studies to determine the environmental impacts.

Engagement and collaboration with the Tribal Nations will be a key aspect of project development. The Tribal Nations with ancestral lands in the San Juan Islands have strong spiritual and cultural ties to salmon and other aquatic species in the region that includes thousands of years of access and use for religious/cultural ceremonies, subsistence, and for commercial purposes. The proposed project would be in the Usual and Accustomed (U&A) fishing area for the region’s Tribal Nations who were signatory to the Treaty of Point Elliott. The team is meeting with these Tribal Nations to get feedback and share information throughout the project. We started these meeting 2 years ago and are continuing with these throughout the duration of the DOE/FERC process. There will be other opportunities through FERC for the Tribal Nations to give official comment on the project.

We started our outreach to Tribal Nations over 2 years ago. It started with initial outreach to the Tribal Chairpersons from the Tribes we regularly consult based on our state, local, and federal agency recommendations. We have expanded our outreach to include the fisheries, environmental, and cultural departments and preservation officers as recommended by the Tribal Nations.  We have strived for early engagement and an inclusive approach based on working with each Tribal Nation to determine how best to engage them throughout this process. To date we have had 10 meetings with the Tribal Nations and additional meetings are scheduled over the next month.

We are not at a stage where Tribal Nations have formally commented or expressed their support. Since we are still in the feasibility phase of the project, we are still gathering and sharing information and helping define what should be studied. To date, the Tribal Nations have been responsive and engaged and have been great to work with. We will be sharing all information that is studied with the Tribal Nations.

This is part of what is being studied during the feasibility stage. This aspect of the project will be looked at from various perspectives and we will be seeking input from Tribal Nations and the regulatory agencies involved with recreation and commercial fisheries and navigation.

The energy world is changing dramatically due to climate impacts, carbon reduction legislation, and the transition toward renewable power. The goal of our state and nation is to transition away from fossil fuels and heat our homes and fuel our cars, trucks and ferries using electricity. This lofty goal is proving to be highly challenging. Given our remote location, our best bet for clean and affordable firm power is to build renewable generation projects locally. OPALCO wants to explore power options that can offer power when the sun isn’t shining, and the wind isn’t blowing. Tidal power has a much more consistent flow of energy and can offer power in the winter months when we use the most.

The device will be visible from shore. There are always trade-offs for every power generation source, and we will need to weigh out the costs and benefits including visual impact.

Orbital Marine out of Scotland has had the floating stream O2 device in the water in the Orkney Islands. You can find pictures of the location with the technology at https://www.orbitalmarine.com/. They have been successfully harvesting power since 2021.

The FERC pilot license OPALCO is applying for is good for 10 years. The unit lifespan is 20 years. If it makes sense, there is potential for continuing with a full commercial license to use the unit for its full license.

The fine details of who would do what have yet to be determined. The current plan is that Orbital and OPALCO would split maintenance of the unit. Orbital would monitor and deal with most major things. OPALCO would do some of the more routine maintenance. This current grant will help determine some of these details.

This project is outside of the shipping channel based on AIS frequency maps.

Unknown. This is part of what will be determined during this study. Breaking even will be dependent on future regional power costs.

We won’t know until analysis is done. If it’s not about saving money the likelihood of going forward is small.

This is a grant funded project with the goal being nominal costs to OPALCO members. Regional power costs are going up so OPALCO is exploring ways to have some local, renewable generation that will be more cost effective that mainland power.

We have done initial engagement with the National Marine Fishery Service. This is the group we are required to work with because Orca Whales are in the area. They will dictate what studies we need to do and who we will need to consult. This is all mandated by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. We chose this location based on a study by PNNL that stated there was less marine mammal traffic than some of the other local locations.