Executive Viewpoint
Atlantis Resources Corporation: Taming the waves
23 August 2010
Tidal Today speaks to Tim Cornelius, chief executive officer, Atlantis Resources Corporation, about the strategy behind the launch of the AK1000, the largest and most powerful tidal power turbine ever built.
Interview by Katherine Steiner-Dicks
Tidal Today: Tim, you, your team and your partners have accomplished what has been a momentus project a long time coming. Was there ever any doubt that you’d get where you are today?
Tim Cornelius: There was never any doubt.
We believe in our technical team and we trust in the rigueur and discipline applied to our internal engineering processes. We apply world class human and technical resource to cutting edge thinking and we focus on execution and delivery. That is the culture at Atlantis.
That said, we have had our fair share of trials and tribulations and we have faced many hurdles and challenges over the past few years. The AK1000™ is testament to the intestinal fortitude and belief of our shareholders, technical partners and staff.
Tidal Today: The AK1000™ turbine unveiling at Invergordon in Scotland was just one of the really positive stories to come out of the tidal energy sector in recent weeks. What do you think is driving the sector forward to the next level of development or as you have coined it “the start of a new industrial boom, akin to the development of the North Sea oil & gas fields”?
Tim Cornelius: Security of supply in a resource and carbon constrained world. Governments in the UK and abroad are now having the vision to plan for domestic energy demand requirements in 20 to 30 years time, well past their elected terms in office.
The private sector is responding to these long term support signals projected by those holding office. When a government supports an industry at a domestic level, the impacts can be recognized on a global scale.
The North Sea oil & gas industry owes much of its success to the significant financial and commercial support it received from the government in the 1970s. This investment has created one of the most highly skilled and dynamic workforces in existence and all of these skills are directly translatable to the marine power industry.
With the continued assistance of the UK government, we can replicate the success of the wind industry in Denmark and the solar industry in Japan.
Tidal Today: If you had a wish list to hand over to the UK government to support the tidal energy industry, what would be on it?
Tim Cornelius: Top of my list would be to maintain the banded ROC mechanism, create parity between Wave and Tidal energy such that both sectors are awarded 5 ROCs, not just in Scotland, but across the UK.
This positive action will catalyise the substantial investment required to help offset/cope with pioneering risk and establish the first series of commercial scale tidal arrays.
Tidal Today: What type of interest are you attracting from utility companies in regards to your turbine’s capabilities and when is your target date to get the turbine connected to the grid?
Tim Cornelius: The AK1000™ it presently being installed in the European Marine Energy Centre and we expect to complete turbine commissioning and grid connection this summer.
We have been overwhelmed by the commercial interest in the AK1000™. Utilities, governments and private developers from the UK, France, USA, Canada, Chile, Brazil, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China and Africa have all engaged with the Company subsequent to the launch and are sending delegations to commence or complete technical due diligence on the AK1000™.
To respond to this article, please write to the editor:
Katherine Steiner-Dicks: steinercommunications@yahoo.co.uk
