Who We Are and What Drives Us
We got into ocean and tidal energy education because there was a gap. Not just in training — but in how people understood this field. Too many programs focused on theory without explaining how things actually worked when currents changed or equipment failed at 3am. We built something different.
Our Foundation
Back in 2021, a handful of us were working on different tidal projects across British Columbia. We kept running into the same problem: talented people who wanted to work in renewable ocean energy but couldn't find practical training anywhere.
So we started meeting at a coffee shop in East Vancouver — sketching out what real training would look like. Not just textbooks and simulations, but actual scenarios from installation sites, maintenance challenges, grid integration headaches. The stuff that keeps you up at night when you're responsible for a turbine array.
Three years later, we're still having those conversations. Except now we've got students joining from across Canada, bringing their own questions and making our programs better every time.
What Matters to Us
Practical Over Perfect
We teach what works in the field, not what looks good in a presentation. Sometimes that means showing where systems break down or explaining why a textbook approach won't cut it when you're dealing with saltwater corrosion.
Honest Assessment
Ocean energy isn't for everyone. It requires patience, technical thinking, and comfort with unpredictability. We'd rather have students discover that early through our coursework than six months into a job they hate.
Ongoing Learning
This field changes constantly. New turbine designs, updated grid requirements, different installation techniques. We update our content every few months based on what's happening in actual projects — not just what's in research papers.
Real Connections
Our instructors still work in the industry. They're not just teaching — they're doing this work. That means sometimes a lesson gets rescheduled because someone's dealing with an emergency turbine repair, but it also means you get current, tested knowledge.
How We Got Here
Building an education platform around emerging technology meant figuring things out as we went. Here's the short version of that journey.
Early Experiments (2021)
Started with weekend workshops in Vancouver, teaching basics of tidal energy to anyone curious. Realized people needed way more depth than a two-day seminar could provide.
Building the Curriculum (2022)
Spent most of the year developing actual coursework. Interviewed technicians, engineers, project managers about what knowledge gaps they saw. Tested early versions with small groups who gave us brutally honest feedback.
Launch and Iteration (2023)
Opened enrollment to our first full cohort. Learned quickly what worked in theory didn't always work in practice. Rewrote about 40% of our material based on student questions and struggles.
Current Operations (2024)
Running multiple program tracks now, from introductory courses to specialized technical training. Still adjusting and improving — probably always will be. The technology keeps evolving, so our teaching has to keep pace.
Want to See How We Teach?
Our learning programs break down complex systems into manageable pieces. You won't become an expert overnight, but you'll build real understanding step by step.
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