UK: JDR to Connect DeltaStream to Shore

Tidal Energy Limited (TEL) has appointed JDR Cables for the design, manufacture and delivery of the submarine cable connecting the DeltaStream unit to the shore.

An initial 400KW full scale single turbine unit will be installed as part of the first phase of development. Subsequent upgrades will be made to bring the DeltaStream up to full three turbine 1.2MW capacity as part of the DeltaStream development plan, however this scope of supply is purely to satisfy the requirements of the first prototype deployment.

The DeltaStream device shall have its own induction generator that will be connected to shore by a power cable.

‘Raw’ power from the generator at a nominal 450kVA, 3 phase, 6.6kv will be transmitted to the power conditioning plant located ashore at the point of connection to the local electrical distribution system. No local power will be generated on the device to power auxiliary systems so all auxiliary power will also be supplied at 3 phase, 6.6kv within the submarine cable.

The submarine cable will be laid directly on the seabed and will not be trenched. In addition to the power conductors, at least one cable shall carry fibre optic links for control and monitoring signals, and an auxiliary power cable required to supply power for auxiliary power supplies on the DeltaStream device. This contract will require the supply of either a single cable that has 6 cores (for the 2 sets of 3 phase 6.6kV) or 2 cables each with 3 cores (3phase/6.6kV), to be terminated at the device and at a shoreside termination box.

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Press release, July 5, 2013; Image: tidalenergyltd