Campbell River is the gateway to some of the world’s largest tides. The Discovery Passage area boasts six of the top 50 sites for tidal energy in Canada. The City of Campbell River is interested in supporting the development of a tidal energy industry, research and environmental monitoring in the region.
In 2011, the City of Campbell River completed a Tidal Power Feasibility Study to look at the potential for a small scale tidal turbine to be installed at the Fishing Pier to generate electricity to power the lights. The results indicate that partnership with industry would be necessary to mobilize such a project, and that currents are much stronger further out into the channel and in other areas in the Discovery Passage. The City of Campbell River’s Economic Development Corporation (Rivercorp) is now actively pursuing industry partnership to look at tidal energy testing in the region.
For full details on the Fishing Pier tidal feasibility study, Tidal Energy Demonstration Project - Discovery Passage BC (27975 KB).