Tidal power firm Atlantis has entered into a five-year collaboration agreement with JDR Cable Systems to develop solutions for storage, installation, monitoring, connection, termination and testing of offshore subsea cables, as well as advancing the engineering design of the cables.
In addition, the companies will agree targets for health, safety, and environmental and quality performance.
Atlantis and JDR will also explore opportunities to establish a subsea cable research and development facility in Scotland, to service and advance the Atlantis portfolio of tidal power projects in Scotland.
This collaboration underlines Scotland’s role at the forefront of developing tidal power projects with the emergence of a regional centre of excellence around the Atlantis portfolio of projects and its intended operations and maintenance facility currently being established at Nigg Energy Park in Invergordon, Scotland.
Tim Cornelius, CEO at Atlantis, says: “I am delighted to have entered this collaboration agreement with JDR. Building on a strong partnership forged during the construction phase of Phase 1A, this agreement will have a positive impact on all of our future project developments, the first of these being the 6MW Phase 1B of MeyGen which we are aspirant of commencing construction in 2016. JDR supplied the subsea cables for MeyGen Phase 1A, which remains on track to execute its final offshore installation and commissioning program in 2016.
“By working with JDR we hope to benefit from optimum cable design, ensuring that the cable supply chain is established and achieving a reduction in costs for the entire tidal industry.”
David Currie, CEO of JDR, said: “On behalf of JDR, I am delighted to form this collaboration partnership with Atlantis. Our execution efforts around the MeyGen project have been to deliver a successful campaign and project for Atlantis while ensuring the highest standards of subsea power cabling in terms of HSE, quality and innovation.
"I am excited to support the collaboration of the JDR and Atlantis teams in our endeavours to focus on cost reduction and reliability of cable development for this important sector of offshore energy.”