High Flow Installation Vessel

A new vessel design aims to cut the cost of installing tidal energy turbines in half, making them competitive with offshore wind. Tidal energy is predictable and powerful, but installing turbines in fast-moving, aggressive marine conditions is expensive and dangerous. Existing installation vessels can only operate in calm seas, meaning long delays and high costs. This project brings together Mojo Maritime, Voith Turbo, Det Norske Veritas, Bauer Renewables, and the University of Exeter to develop a patented vessel and operating concept built from first principles to handle those harsh conditions. The goal is to significantly widen the weather windows in which installation can safely take place. If successful, the new vessel could reduce the cost of installing and maintaining tidal arrays to a level comparable with offshore wind. That would make tidal energy a viable, cost-competitive part of the UK’s renewable energy mix, helping to decarbonise the electricity grid without relying on intermittent sources. The impact would be felt in the energy supply chain and grid infrastructure—systems most people never think about until they fail.