Ocean Renewable Power Company and its subsidiary, OPRC Solutions LLC, will be returning to Cobscook and Passamaquoddy bays starting in the fall. With the news that ORPC has been awarded $5.3 million in Department of Energy funds towards a $10 million project, ORPC Vice President of Project Development and President of ORPC Solutions John Ferland says, "It's exciting being able to move forward and returning to our in‑water operation" in the Eastport and Lubec area. ORPC has received nearly $1 million towards the project from Maine Technology Asset Fund and is seeking investment for the remaining $3.7 million needed.
     In an independent but serendipitous project, ORPC Solutions LLC has been contracted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to conduct tidal energy testing in Western Passage, just off Eastport. Because ORPC "was an early mover in the industry, we've developed technical skills that others can use. We're able to provide expertise," Ferland says, about the development of the ORPC Solutions subsidiary. He explains that the NREL has developed a model of locations for ranking sites for tidal energy maximization that is based on a number of factors, including tidal current and proximity to transmission infrastructure. "So the actual site measurements will validate the ranking." He adds, "What's neat about it is that we'll be able to reach out to the community again" for local knowledge and expertise. He expects that the NREL work will begin in the fall.
     The ORPC TidGen work is expected to be a four‑year project with multiple phases to "ensure success," and it will build on the previous work developed in Downeast waters, Ferland says. The next 14 months or so will be spent designing and modeling component parts and systems, with placement of the new device to take place at the previously used ORPC site in Cobscook Bay to "verify all systems." If all goes as planned the TidGen device will then be placed at the ORPC permitted site near Dog Island in Western Passage. "We're three years away from being there" in the work, so the exact location has not yet been determined. The goal is to create a device with increased efficiency that includes a revised mooring system so that it's "truly commercially viable," certifiable and able to provide energy for sale to third parties.
     Returning Downeast is rewarding, Ferland notes. The company is looking forward to tapping into the local knowledge base again. About mid‑way through the project the company's presence in the bay should look much like it did before. "It allows us to work with very talented people" from the Eastport and Lubec area with "water knowledge and technical know‑how."
     "ORPC is a global leader in hydrokinetic energy, and this grant will help accelerate the company's efforts to improve upon its tidal turbine technology," say Senators Susan Collins and Angus King in a joint statement. "By developing innovative and groundbreaking methods for generating clean, renewable energy, we will help ensure a reliable, affordable power supply and that our environment is preserved for future generations."
     ORPC President and CEO Chris Sauer said in a prepared release, "We look forward to commercializing our TidGen Power System in Maine, collaborating with Eastport and Lubec, as well as with local contractors and service providers." ORPC will continue its industry‑leading environmental monitoring efforts in collaboration with state and federal regulators that to date have shown no adverse effects on the marine environment.