Strategy: BC Battery Tugs

Replace dieself BC barge tugs with equivalent battery-powered ones, supported by tidal power generation.

Cost per removed/avoided tonne CO2e: -198.08 CAD / metric_ton
Net Present CO2e @ 2.0%: -2580.353 kiloton (negative means reduction)
Net Present Heat @ 2.0%: -0.610 exajoule (negative means reduction)
Net Present Value @ 2.0%: 463.681 megaCAD (negative means non-profitable)

Table of Contents:

Financial Projections
Tidal Power for Coastal Recharging
National Emissions Impact
Links

Financial Projections

Suppose that the combined diesel and electric fleet size is constant.

Suppose that the number of ZEV vessels increases linearly at a steady rate sufficient to replace the fleet every 20 year. Then we have the following battery-electric fleet size over time.

The largest and riskiest factor in this strategy forecast is the projected cost of marine batteries. In 2026 this is a guess at the cost of Corvus Energy Blue Whale system, and looking further out, it is projected that the cost of marine batteries will drop via the use of Sodium Ion technology, especially from Chinese firm CATL.

In terms of financial modelling, the project is modelled as

vessels lasting 20 year with no salvage value
research and development starting in 2027, lasting 5 year and costing 1000000.0 CAD / year
on-board battery range sufficient for 24 hour in average conditions, maintaining 2000 horsepower
the non-battery cost of each launched tug: 5000000 CAD
diesel costing 1.2 CAD / liter and being consumed at 400.0 liter / hour
electricity being available at 0.1 CAD / hour / kilowatt
earning 2.383823823404354 megaCAD annually relative to a diesel vessel in consuming less-expensive fuel
vessels working 300 days per year

Although a small part of the bigger picture, the impact on CO2 emissions from the Pacific log tug fleet is expected to be significant.

Tidal Power for Coastal Recharging

British Columbia has significant tidal energy potential, estimated at over 2,000 MW of development opportunities due to its extensive coastline and narrow channels. [Citation TODO] While the province was an early pioneer in the technology, many projects remain at the demonstration or feasibility stage rather than full-scale commercial operation.

Notable Tidal Power Projects

Blind Channel Tidal Energy Demonstration Centre: Located on West Thurlow Island, this project is a "real-life laboratory" led by the University of Victoria’s Pacific Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery (PRIMED). It features a 25 kW tidal energy converter (TEC) integrated into a hybrid system with solar and diesel power to help remote coastal communities transition away from fossil fuels.
Kamdis Tidal Power Project (Haida Gwaii): An active project involving Yourbrook Energy Systems Ltd. to develop a 500 kW tidal energy generation system. It combines tidal power with pumped hydroelectric storage to provide firm, reliable clean power to the north grid of Haida Gwaii.
Dent Island Tidal Power Generation Project: A project developed by Water Wall Turbine Inc. for the Dent Island Lodge. It utilized a floating 500 kW tidal turbine and battery storage system designed for shallow, narrow tidal areas typical of B.C.'s west coast.
Race Rocks Tidal Energy Project: Historically significant as Canada's first in-stream tidal current generator, installed in 2006. The 65 kW prototype at the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve was used to replace diesel generators for several years before being decommissioned in 2011 for analysis and historical preservation.
Fundy Ocean Research Centre (FORCE): a partnership of Eauclaire Tidal and Orbital Marine has secured 12.5MW of marine energy licenses from the Province of Nova Scotia for tidal stream energy deployments, which could inform larger scale projects in British Columbia.

Key Locations for Tidal Resources

Discovery Passage: Areas near Campbell River are frequently studied due to fast currents that offer easy access to the BC Hydro power grid.
Skookumchuck Narrows (Sechelt Rapids): Known for some of the world's fastest tidal currents, reaching speeds up to 17.6 knots.
Haida Gwaii & Vancouver Island: These regions host numerous off-grid communities where tidal power is viewed as a critical alternative to diesel dependency.

Simply looking along aerial photography of the BC coast suggests a number of narrow-mouthed inlets which might be candidates for further study of power generation potential.

-123.95 49.77

-125.35 50.12

-127.02 49.83

-127.96 50.46

-127.9 50.9

-127.97 51.75

-128.41 52.25

-128.5 52.42

-129.25 52.99

-129.56 53.19

-130.34 53.61

-130.08 53.86

-130.45 54.66

-130.8 54.46

Regulatory and Development Context

The B.C. government manages Ocean Energy Tenures on Crown land through investigative and general area licenses. While the province has vast resources, recent development has faced challenges due to the high cost of technology compared to B.C.'s established hydroelectric system and a difficult regulatory climate for nascent marine renewables.

National Emissions Impact

Below: the impact of this strategy on atmospheric CO2 concentration.

Below: the difference in global heat forcing. The datapoints in this curve are used to compute the Net Present Heat for the project, by adding up the energy associated with each year (modulated by the future discount factor).