TIDAL power group Atlantis Resources has revealed plans to develop the first tidal array sites in French waters, just ten days after being granted full accreditation by Ofgem for its Meygen project in the Pentland Firth.

Atlantis will work with Nantes-based marine engineering company Innosea on the project, which will initially investigate regions suitable for a supply chain that can deliver tidal power.

Innosea is advising Atlantis on how to build a French supply chain plan for the manufacture, assembly and distribution of its Atlantis AR1500 tidal turbines as well as foundations and associated transportation and logistics.

An AR1500 is one of the four turbines deployed at Phase 1A of MeyGen and began exporting power to the grid in November.

Atlantis and Innosea’s UK arm are already collaborating on Phase 1B of Meygen.

Innosea has developed a marine energy industrial capability directory, which profiles more than 350 organisations in France that have capabilities (products and services) relevant to the marine energy industry.

The group has undertaken an analysis of vessel fleets, operational ports, marshalling yards and logistics companies in order to prepare a local deployment plan for Atlantis.

Innosea is currently assessing local partners for civil engineering works, composite, steel or concrete fabrication, turbine assembly, testing and commissioning and component manufacture.

France has the second largest tidal power resource in Europe.

Chief executive Tim Cornelius said its work on developing MeyGen 1A would translate directly to project sites such as Raz Blanchard in Normandy.

“We want to make material progress during 2017 with respect to project identification. From our perspective, deployment of generating assets is possible in one to two years’ time,” he said.

“The AR1500 turbine system is already producing commercial scale power in Scotland and our project teams are the most experienced in the world.”