FloTEC · Project

Floating Tidal Turbines That Cut Ocean Energy Costs by 20%

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Imagine a giant floating platform with underwater propellers that spin with the tides to generate electricity — like an offshore wind turbine, but powered by predictable ocean currents instead of unpredictable wind. The team built a 2MW machine, deployed it in real Scottish waters, and showed it could be paired into a small array. The big deal? Tides are reliable — you know exactly when they come and go — so this energy source can work like a baseload power plant. They also cut costs by 20% through smarter manufacturing and centralized power conversion.

By the numbers

2MW

Single turbine rated power capacity

4MW

Demonstration array total capacity

€250/MWh to €200/MWh

Targeted levelised cost of energy reduction

50%

Greater energy capture from enlarged rotors

Consortium partners

80%

Industry partner ratio in consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Tidal energy has enormous potential — predictable, reliable, and available across European coastlines — but current costs at around €250/MWh make it uncompetitive with wind and solar. The main barriers are expensive seabed-mounted foundations, complex underwater maintenance, and lack of proven array-scale configurations that attract standard project financing.

The solution

What was built

A full-scale 2MW floating tidal turbine (SR2000-2) with enlarged rotors for 50% greater energy capture, composite blades, integrated energy storage, centralized MV power conversion, and mooring load dampeners. The turbine was deployed and commissioned at EMEC alongside the existing SR2000-1 to form a 4MW demonstration array.

Audience

Who needs this

Marine energy developers planning tidal stream projectsCoastal and island utilities seeking predictable renewable baseload powerComposite blade manufacturers looking to enter the tidal energy marketPort authorities and maritime infrastructure operators exploring local energy generationOffshore wind developers diversifying into tidal energy

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Offshore Energy Development

any

Target: Tidal and wave energy developers

If you are a marine energy developer struggling with high capital costs and uncertain returns from tidal projects — this project demonstrated a 2MW floating turbine deployed at EMEC that reduced levelised cost of energy from €250/MWh toward €200/MWh. The floating design simplifies installation and maintenance compared to seabed-mounted systems. They also proved a 4MW array configuration, giving you a real blueprint for scaling up.

Coastal Utilities & Grid Operators

enterprise

Target: Power utilities serving island or coastal communities

If you are a utility company serving coastal or island communities that depend on expensive diesel generation or undersea cables — this project built and tested a floating tidal system with integrated energy storage for baseload generation. The predictability of tidal flows means you can plan grid supply hours in advance, unlike wind or solar. The centralized MV power conversion system was designed specifically to reduce costs for multi-turbine arrays.

Marine Engineering & Composites Manufacturing

mid-size

Target: Shipyards and composite blade manufacturers

If you are a marine fabrication company or composite manufacturer looking for new markets — this project developed automated steel fabrication methods and composite blade manufacturing techniques for tidal turbines. The enlarged rotors deliver 50% greater energy capture, creating demand for specialized large-scale composite blades. With 80% of the consortium being industry partners, the supply chain is already partly mapped out.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does tidal energy cost compared to other renewables?

The project started with an estimated cost of €250/MWh for floating tidal energy and targeted a reduction to €200/MWh — a 20% cut achieved through cheaper manufacturing, centralized power conversion, and mooring load dampeners. For comparison, offshore wind is currently around €50-80/MWh, so tidal still carries a premium but offers unique value through predictability.

Can this scale beyond a single turbine to a commercial array?

Yes. The project deployed the new SR2000-2 turbine alongside the existing SR2000-1 at EMEC to form a 4MW floating tidal array. This two-turbine array served as a demonstration platform specifically designed to prove commercial viability and inform financing for larger first arrays.

Who owns the intellectual property and how can I license it?

The coordinator, Orbital Marine Power Limited (UK-based SME), is the primary technology owner. Based on available project data, the IP covers the floating turbine platform, composite blade manufacturing, centralized MV power conversion, and integrated energy storage. Licensing arrangements would need to be negotiated directly with Orbital Marine Power.

Is the technology proven in real ocean conditions?

Yes. The SR2000-2 turbine was built, commissioned, and deployed at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, Scotland — one of the world's most demanding tidal test sites. Deliverable records confirm the 2MW turbine was commissioned onsite at EMEC.

Does this include energy storage for baseload supply?

Yes. One of the five core objectives was integrating energy storage into the floating tidal system to enable flexible, baseload generation. This addresses a key limitation of tidal energy — while tides are predictable, there are slack periods between flows where storage bridges the gap.

What regulatory approvals exist for deploying these turbines?

Based on available project data, the turbine was deployed and operated at EMEC under existing UK marine energy consenting frameworks. Specific regulatory pathways for commercial deployment in other EU waters would depend on national maritime and environmental regulations in each target country.

How mature is the supply chain for floating tidal turbines?

The consortium of 15 partners across 4 countries includes 12 industry partners and 6 SMEs, covering fabrication, composites, power electronics, and mooring systems. The project specifically developed automated steel fabrication and composite blade manufacturing processes to industrialize the supply chain.

Consortium

Who built it

The FloTEC consortium is heavily industry-driven: 12 out of 15 partners (80%) are industry players, including 6 SMEs, with only 2 universities and 1 other organization. This is unusual for EU projects and signals strong commercial intent. Led by Orbital Marine Power Limited, a UK-based SME that is also the technology developer, the consortium spans 4 countries (UK, Germany, France, Ireland) — all with significant Atlantic coastlines and tidal energy potential. The high industry ratio means the supply chain for manufacturing, deployment, and grid connection is already being built into the project from day one.

ORBITAL MARINE POWER LIMITEDCoordinator · UK
SKF GMBHparticipant · DE
UNIVERSITY OF GALWAYparticipant · IE
EIRECOMPOSITES TEORANTAparticipant · IE
ELECTRICITE DE FRANCEparticipant · FR
SKF MARINE GMBHthirdparty · DE
ABB LIMITEDparticipant · UK
THE EUROPEAN MARINE ENERGY CENTRE LIMITEDparticipant · UK
TFI MARINE LIMITEDparticipant · IE
EDF ENERGY R&D UK CENTRE LIMITEDthirdparty · UK
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK - NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, CORKparticipant · IE
SKF (U.K) LIMITEDthirdparty · UK

How to reach the team

Orbital Marine Power Limited (UK) — the SME that built and operates the SR2000 turbine platform. Formerly known as Scotrenewables Tidal Power.

Order a report on this consortium See ORBITAL MARINE POWER LIMITED profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the FloTEC team or a detailed briefing on their floating tidal technology? SciTransfer can arrange a direct connection with the coordinator and prepare a tailored technology brief for your specific needs.

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