A new research and development project in Wales aims to design next-generation tidal turbine blades, with the goal of improving performance and resilience in marine environments.
The initiative, backed by £1 million in funding from the Welsh Government’s Vinnovate programme, brings together organisations from the UK and Spain, including Menter Môn Morlais Ltd, AMRC Cymru, ORE Catapult, and Galician firms Magallanes Renovables and D3 Applied Technologies.
The project will focus on developing more efficient and durable turbine blades suitable for deployment off the coast of Ynys Môn (Anglesey), home to Europe’s largest consented tidal energy zone.
“This project promotes international collaboration and supports long-term economic benefits for Ynys Môn, in terms of jobs, skills, innovation and clean energy,” said Andy Billcliff, chief executive of Menter Môn Morlais Ltd. “It’s a step towards making tidal a reliable, scalable part of our net-zero future in Wales.”
The partners aim to combine expertise in design, advanced manufacturing and marine engineering to strengthen Wales’s position in the growing tidal energy sector.
Magallanes Renovables, which has experience developing tidal energy technology in Spain, said the collaboration demonstrates the value of cross-border cooperation. “By combining Galician engineering experience with the established expertise of Wales in marine energy, we can advance the development of sustainable and commercially viable tidal energy,” said Alejandro Marques, chief executive of Magallanes Renovables.
The next phase of the project will focus on prototyping and testing the new blade designs, with a view to future deployment in real-world conditions. The programme also aims to facilitate knowledge exchange and support ongoing innovation in the sector.
