New Cross-Border Initiative to Develop Tidal Turbine Blades in Wales

A new cross-border initiative to develop tidal turbine blades is underway in Wales, led by Menter Môn Morlais, developer of what is said to be Europe’s largest consented tidal energy scheme.

According to Menter Môn Morlais, the project is backed by £1 million (approximately $1.3 million) in funding from the Welsh Government’s Vinnovate program and aims to produce more efficient and durable blades for deployment in high-energy tidal sites off the coast of Ynys Môn, Anglesey.

Partners include AMRC Cymru, ORE Catapult, and the Morlais project, alongside Galician companies Magallanes Renovables and D3 Applied Technologies.

“This project promotes international collaboration and supports long-term economic benefits for Ynys Môn, in terms of jobs, skills, innovation, and clean energy. It’s a step towards making tidal a reliable, scalable part of our net zero future in Wales,” said Andy Billcliff, Chief Executive of Menter Môn Morlais.

The collaboration is said to bring together manufacturing and design capabilities with experience in marine energy.

“We’re proud to contribute our proven tidal technology to this partnership,” Alejandro Marques, Chief Executive of Magallanes Renovables added.

“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. This collaboration highlights the practical benefits of international cooperation in tackling clean energy challenges.”

The next phase will focus on prototyping and testing, aimed at preparing the technology for deployment and supporting knowledge exchange across the partnership.

In June, the UK launched the Marine Energy Taskforce (MET), a new initiative aimed at developing a roadmap to realize the country’s marine energy potential. Among others, Menter Môn Morlais is part of the taskforce.