As the world looks to the oceans for solutions to both clean energy generation and resilient offshore infrastructure, a wave of innovation is surging from the UK. By rethinking traditional systems and designing modular, scalable technologies, businesses are not only reducing costs and complexity but also opening the door to new markets, both at home and overseas.
MODULAR TIDAL POWER TURBINES
Inyanga Marine Energy Group is at the forefront of the fast-growing marine renewables industry. Based in Falmouth it comprises two divisions – Inyanga Maritime, which specialises in offshore engineering and installation, and HydroWing, leading the way in tidal energy development.
Recently, the Group announced that it is undertaking a project to demonstrate the commercial potential of tidal energy technologies at the Morlais tidal stream energy project near Holy Island, Anglesey, Wales.
Tidal power development is a growing area of interest as a source of renewable energy because of the predictability and energy density of the tides, unlike wind and solar power which are weather dependant, particularly in the UK.
Managing director, Richard Parkinson says the project currently has a capacity of 25 megawatts (MW) with an ambition to increase this to over 100MW. Each of the 20 HydroWing units will be powered by two Torcado T3 turbines.
Before the main project goes ahead, Inyanga is building a one-off turbine – “demonstration plant” – or a replica of the other devices to be installed on the project.
This is currently going through the procurement process and Parkinson says it will be installed early 2026 with the remainder of the project to be installed late 2027-early 2028.
“In the past the turbines developed for the marine renewables sector were very large, cumbersome and expensive to instal, and political support for them began to wane,” states Parkinson. “Our twin-rotor tidal energy converter technology is all manufactured in the UK and is modular so multiple units can be easily and simply connected via our ‘wet mate’ connection system.
“The T3 turbine feature passive pitch blades (with no mechanised parts, meaning much lower maintenance costs and downtime) which alter position and allows us to generate power optimally from incoming and outgoing tides. Currently we are collecting around 2.2GW hours per year per turbine.”
He adds that having two smaller turbines rather than one large one introduces a lot of benefits including cheaper manufacturing, easier handling with smaller cranes and in ports that otherwise wouldn’t be suitable, and reduced maintenance time and costs as it can be carried out using locally available vessels or by Inyanga’s own bespoke HydroWing Quad Barge.
Inyanga is targeting two markets, thanks to its compact, modular design – which in turn allows it to be transported easier than larger, traditional turbine systems: One being large scale projects such as the one in Morlais, which form the majority of Inyanga’s focus, but also small-scale, community-based projects where single units are replacing diesel gensets.
Parkinson says that there is huge potential for expanding tidal power solutions like Inyanga’s around the coasts of the UK, stating that there is potential capacity of around 11GW, enough to supply 11% of the UK’s energy demands.
“The cost of energy for tidal power is coming down very, very quickly,” Parkinson says. “It’s forecast that by 2030 it will be cheaper than nuclear, and by the late 2030s- early 2040s it will be close to the cost of offshore wind. I think tidal has a strong place in the market.”
ENGINEERING FOR OFFSHORE
Cornwall-based Feritech Global is pushing the boundaries of offshore geotechnical engineering through cutting-edge technology, bespoke manufacturing, and a strong commitment to innovation. Its equipment is used in more than forty countries, supporting the installation of infrastructure such as offshore wind turbines, subsea cables, and pipelines.
“Feritech Global built its reputation by conducting marine geotechnical surveys. This typically involves going out into deep oceans and sending down our specialised electronic systems to conduct tests to work out certain properties of the ocean floor,” explains managing director Mark Smith.
“It often involves taking samples from the seabed and conducting analysis of their composition. This is vital information for clients who want to install infrastructure out at sea.”
Among the company’s flagship technologies are its Cone Penetration Test (CPT) systems and its Vibrocorers.
“These world-leading technologies offer the most efficient and accurate recovery of seabed data and core samples for geotechnical analysis,” says Smith. “Our first generation Vibrocorer was launched over ten years ago and quickly established itself as the most robust, powerful and versatile vibrocore system available.”
Feritech designs and builds all its equipment in-house. The Vibrocorer, for example, features a low weight high strength modular frame, high power output, and options including variable frequency control, inclinometer, heat flow thermal conductivity system, and real time penetration monitor. Integrated software and a ruggedised design complete the system.
“Innovation is the driving force of our company. We pride ourselves on being able to take on any technical challenge and produce a solution,” says Smith.
Opened in 2022, the Feritech Innovation Centre near Falmouth provides the facilities needed for complete design, build, and test cycles. One notable project completed there was a next-generation auto-drop piston corer for subsea robotics firm Oceaneering.
“We estimate that this new product will enable seabed samples to be collected up to ten times faster than with traditional piston corers,” Smith says.
Feritech has also released the FT3505 winch, which Smith says: “Has all the power, drum capacity and features of our previous generation winch but is nearly 40% smaller in frame size.”
The unit is designed for rapid mobilisation and can be shipped in a standard container.
The company is expanding its capabilities. “Feritech’s design, electrical, electronic and hydraulic capabilities are also being expanded, in line with the increased demand for subcontract projects that we are experiencing,” Smith confirms.
Smith adds that Feritech also sees future growth in supporting floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea and tackling environmental challenges in the telecoms sector.
“We want to build a reputation as one of the best advanced engineering facilities in the UK,” Smith concludes. “Everything we design, manufacture or sell has to be underpinned by our core values: it must be reliable, efficient
and safe.”
OFFSHORE WIND INSTALLATION
Morek Engineering is innovating in technical engineering for the blue economy, specialising in mooring and dynamic cable design, offshore construction planning and execution for the fast-growing marine renewables industry, spanning floating offshore wind, wave energy and tidal energy, with nearly 200 projects completed in their first five years, and exporting globally from its base in Cornwall.
Recently, the UK Government awarded funding to a consortium led by Morek Engineering to design a new class of low-carbon installation vessel for the floating offshore wind market.
This project is part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 4 (CMDC4), funded by the UK Department for Transport and delivered by Innovate UK.
CMDC4 is part of the Department’s UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme, a £206m initiative focused on developing the technology necessary to decarbonise the UK domestic maritime sector.
Bob Colclough, MD of Morek Engineering, says: “This will be a first-in-class low-carbon vessel designed specifically to meet the complex installation requirements of floating offshore wind farm moorings.”
“As the next era of offshore wind development moves towards using floating foundations, unlocking deeper sites and accessing stronger winds further from shore, this will involve mooring floating foundations to support the world’s largest offshore wind turbines, some the size of the Eiffel Tower,” Colclough continues. “To meet the upcoming demand, we need to completely rethink mooring deployment as we know it.”
The project has completed its first feasibility stage, and the target is to secure an Approval in Principle by the end of 2025.
THRIVING FUTURE
Marine engineering is proving itself to be a vital enabler of the global energy transition, and the UK is firmly positioning itself at the forefront of this transformation.
From Inyanga’s modular tidal systems poised to harness predictable marine power, to Feritech’s precision geotechnical tools driving faster, safer offshore installations, innovation is thriving across the sector.
As further developments emerge, such as Morek’s low-carbon floating wind installation vessel, it is clear that engineering excellence and environmental responsibility are no longer separate goals, but shared imperatives driving the next generation of offshore projects.