ocean energy: An unprecedented industrial project for offshore transition
In spring 2024, Inyanga Marine Energy Group took a decisive step for the ocean energy sector by awarding Hutchinson Engineering a major manufacturing contract for the Morlais tidal turbine project, off the coast of Wales. The foundation structure will weigh 120 tons and reach a height of 19 meters for the nacelle, all designed for a 25-year durability in an extreme underwater environment. A single module promises an energy yield of 1.2 MW, enough to power more than 1,000 British households. The manufacturing, shared between the Cheshire factory and the Welsh quayside site, anticipates a launch in early 2026, with the ambition to position the region as a global locomotive for ocean energy.
The excitement is all the more palpable as Inyanga’s Hydrowing technology is part of a European dynamic, with ongoing projects in France, Southeast Asia, and Canada. These advances come in a context of increased pressures on the European energy mix, as demand for reliable and non-intermittent renewable alternatives intensifies. The £2 million investment by the Welsh Government in May 2024 thus marks a strong political will to anchor Wales on the global map of offshore energy transition.
offshore energy: Between promises, risks, and economic model
The technical innovation of the Morlais project raises as many hopes as questions. Financially, Inyanga Marine Energy Group benefits from the support of private and public investors, including the Welsh government, but also from funds specializing in green infrastructure. The model is based on the industrialization of an emerging technology, with the aim of demonstrating the commercial viability of ocean energy on a large scale. According to my sources, Inyanga’s strategy aims to attract European and Asian industrial partners to accelerate global deployment, while ensuring the creation of local jobs.
On the environmental side, the promises are real: no CO2 emissions, predictable energy, and a smaller footprint than offshore wind turbines. But the NGOs and marine biologists I interviewed are concerned about impacts on benthic habitats, marine mammals, and the fragmentation of migratory corridors. While Inyanga assures that mitigation measures have been integrated – such as acoustic monitoring and the possibility of easy removal at the end of life – the scientific community is calling for independent long-term studies, particularly on noise disturbance and turbidity generated during installation.
The players and financial ambitions behind Inyanga
Inyanga Marine Energy Group, founded by veterans of the offshore sector and pioneers of renewables, attracts capital from European funds and investors specializing in future technologies. Their goal: to prove the profitability of the model, attract foreign markets and, in the long term, structure a complete industrial sector on British soil. The recent fundraising, joined by the Welsh Government, aims to finance R&D, initial deployments, and secure new export contracts.
ocean energy: Towards a sustainable sector, under conditions
The Morlais project illustrates the emergence of a mature and ambitious ocean energy sector in the UK. While the capacity of 1.2 MW per turbine is an important milestone, success will depend on the ability of industrialists to reconcile economic performance and ecological requirements. Strengthening transparency on impact studies, involving local communities, and investing in environmental monitoring are all conditions to guarantee social acceptability and the sustainability of the model.
As the energy transition accelerates, the challenge for Wales – and, beyond, for the entire ocean energy sector – will be to prove that technological innovation can go hand in hand with respect for marine ecosystems. The coming months, with the final assembly and sea trials, will be decisive in judging the ability of new players to turn the test into lasting success.
Sources
https://www.inyangamarine.com/
https://www.inyangamarine.com/news/2025/05/inyanga-marine-energy-group-awards…
https://www.offshore-energy.biz/inyanga-marine-energy-awards-contract-for-wel…
https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/hydro-power/new-suite-of-contracts-signe…
https://www.inyangamarine.com/
https://www.inyangamarine.com/news/2025/05/inyanga-marine-energy-group-awards…
https://www.offshore-energy.biz/inyanga-marine-energy-awards-contract-for-wel…
https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/hydro-power/new-suite-of-contracts-signe…
