Scottish Company Secures £500,000 Wave Hub Contract

04 February 2010

Aberdeen-based Hydro Group has been awarded a contract worth £500,000 in a deal that will see the global solution provider of optical and electrical subsea products collaborating on the Wave Hub project.

Wave Hub is a marine renewable infrastructure project being developed by the South West RDA (Regional Development Agency). It is situated on the seabed in some 50 metres of sea water approximately 16km off the coast of Cornwall and connected to the National Grid via a subsea cable. 

Hydro Group has been sub-contracted by JDR Cable Systems to provide a new high voltage connector for the marine renewable project which is being funded by the South West RDA, UK Government and the European Regional Development Fund.

The Hydro Renewable Connector (HRC), the result of extensive research and development has been designed to meet the specific needs of the marine renewable market and is one of a range of innovative products Hydro Group has developed in more than three decades serving the subsea market.

The HRC connects wave or tidal power generation units to heavy armoured seabed cables. The current design is rated at 12 kV and future product development will increase the operating voltage to 33 kV.

Hydro Group managing director, Doug Whyte, said “Marine renewables are a key focus for the company, not only in the UK, but also internationally as other country's governments commit considerable financial support to their own energy strategies.

“Wave Hub is the largest wave and tidal energy project in the UK and Hydro Group is delighted to be involved in this ambitious project.”