New generators for offshore renewables

The modular generators are lightweight, efficient, and easy to maintain

Spotted: Offshore renewable energy production has become a critical component in the race to net-zero emissions, with offshore wind taking the short-term limelight as onshore wind pipelines saturate. However, persistent challenges remain around high costs and complex supply chains. In 2022, the cost of new offshore wind projects dropped by seven per cent, but these remain significantly higher than onshore alternatives. CGEN Engineering is addressing this issue through its innovative modular generators, which drive down costs while improving operational flexibility. 

CGEN is a spinout from the University of Edinburgh and has produced a lightweight, stackable generator system with a unique approach to power generation. This system has been applied to wind, wave, and tidal energy installations, but could be a game-changer for energy systems all over. Unlike traditional generators, the modular design allows each unit to be added, removed, replaced, or repaired individually. This means that installations can run around issues, replacing a module at a time, rather than needing whole system downtimes that are costly and lengthy to address problems. 

The flexibility of this approach makes it particularly appealing, enabling energy companies to upgrade their technology incrementally without needing large-scale overhauls. This adaptability extends the operational life of installations by 30 to 40 per cent while reducing operating and maintenance costs by up to 70 per cent compared to conventional systems. Dr Joe Burchell, Managing Director of CGEN explained to Springwise that “aside from our cutting-edge technology with a targeted solution for key renewable supply chain bottlenecks, it’s in our company DNA to improve engineering excellence across the UK and beyond.”

Currently, CGEN’s technology has been demonstrated at scales ranging from 10 kilowatts to one megawatt, proving its efficacy across a range of outputs, and the company has been working closely with partners such as Mocean Energy to test and refine the system in real-world settings.

Supported by Edinburgh Innovations, CGEN is actively seeking collaborations with manufacturers to scale production, with Dr Burchell highlighting the potential for strengthening local supply chains, UK-based manufacturing capacity, and engineering talent pipelines, all of which is needed to meet rising renewable demands. The company has gained initial momentum through taking part in Innovate UK’s ICURe accelerator and EU Horizon projects, and is now looking to raise more funds on its journey to commercialisation.

Written By: Oscar Williams