CNA project nominated for innovation award
4/8/2008 9:47:54 AM
When Mike Graham helped his 14-year-old daughter with her science fair project in 2001, he had no way of knowing their simple idea would turn into a full-fledged research study that could potentially become an amazing source of energy, nor that it would one day be considered for an innovation award.
Several years later, the team consisting of five employees from College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Burin campus, has been nominated for an Export Award in Distinction in Innovation.
Under CNA’s Centre for Ocean Wave and Aquaculture Research, the group of scientists has been working on Wave Powered Pumping of Seawater for On-shore Use and Electrical Generation. The project is a partnership between CNA’s Burin campus, the Harbour Authority of Lord’s Cove and the Atlantic Innovation Fund of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
“Wave power is a viable source of alternate energy in coastal areas,” says Graham, Burin campus administrator. “Our Burin campus spearheads this innovative project aiming at harnessing the ocean wave energy into onshore commercial applications. The technology is an outstanding achievement by a dedicated team of researchers, managers and financers.”
Graham says there were many factors for starting the project – the main one being to give back to the community.
“When this research began, unemployment rates on the Burin Peninsula were high. This was especially true in smaller coastal communities that once depended on the inshore fishery and small fish processing plants. Unfortunately, most of the small coastal communities, because of their historical ties to the inshore fishery, are located in exposed areas where there are no suitable sites for traditional pen aquaculture.”
He says if this research is successful, it could make shore-based aquaculture at these sites economically viable.
“It could reverse, at least in part, the effects of the disappearance of groundfish. Like most rural campuses CNA’s Burin campus sees itself as an integral part of the community. Since the people who work there are citizens of that community, the prospect of positively affecting economic development in the region is a powerful motivator.”
“CNA is committed to the communities in each of our 17 locations across the province,” says Jean Madill, president of CNA. “The research conducted by our staff at Burin campus is a testament to the dedication of our talented employees. The Wave Power project is just one of a number of research initiatives CNA has undertaken and we are proud of the work accomplished on each of the projects where we can give back to the community.”
Currently, the Burin campus Wave Research team is a member of a small handful of groups in North America attempting to harness wave energy, and one of only a scant few worldwide.
“It took 25 to 30 years for wind power technology to become a mature commercially viable technology,” says Graham. “Assuming that development time can be cut in half, and worldwide research efforts continue, we are in a position where we can expect commercial scale production of wave based electricity about the same time that current offshore oil wells begin to run dry.”
Those closest to the project are delighted with the nomination for the Export Awards.
The Distinction in Innovation Award is focused primarily on non-profit organizations and educational institutions and recognizes an individual or group that makes an outstanding contribution towards Newfoundland and Labrador’s innovative culture. The recipient will be a leader who is enthusiastic about fostering new ideas that have positively impacted the province and its people and have created or identified successful opportunities for industry by collaborating and building partnerships.
The winner of the award will be announced during the awards ceremony on April 18 in St. John’s.
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For more information contact:
Glenda McCarthy
Public Relations Assistant
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-6408