Unlocking scalable tidal wealth: clean growth for the coastal zone

The UK’s tidal energy potential remains largely untapped because existing technology costs too much to compete commercially. FMP is developing SwimmerTurbine™, a 50kW tidal turbine designed to be scalable and affordable, with key innovations that bring the cost down to commercially viable levels. This project moves the turbine from prototype toward a market-ready machine. If successful, it could unlock a predictable, homegrown source of clean electricity for coastal communities, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and strengthening the UK’s energy grid. The technology is not about household gadgets or daily consumer products—it targets the infrastructure that quietly powers industry and homes. Cheaper tidal energy could also support local manufacturing and supply chains in coastal zones, where economic growth has often lagged. The project is applied engineering, not fundamental science; its success depends on manufacturing and deployment, not on discovering new physical principles.