A new type of generator developed by Edinburgh engineers could reduce the cost of electricity produced by offshore renewable technologies.

The lightweight, stackable generator system—which converts mechanical energy produced by offshore wind, wave and tidal technologies into electricity—could also help extend the lifespan of renewable energy installations.

The modular system, developed by new spinout company CGEN Engineering, can be easily transported to renewable energy installations and assembled into a complete power system.

Unlike conventional systems, each module can be added, replaced or moved individually, meaning energy companies can keep operations running without long downtimes, the team says. The new technology also enables companies to upgrade their systems over time without major overhauls.

Edinburgh invention

The technology was invented by Professor Markus Mueller of the University's School of Engineering. It was developed further with Dr. Joseph Burchell, a Research Fellow in the School of Engineering and CGEN's Managing Director, and mechanical and manufacturing engineer Mike Galbraith.

The team has tested the technology at scales up to one megawatt—enough electricity to supply hundreds of homes.

Renewables installations

The technology could deliver a range of benefits for offshore renewables, including reducing the average cost of energy they produce by 10% to 15%.

It could also increase the operational life of installations by 30% to 40% compared to conventional generator systems, while reducing the lifetime operating and maintenance costs for generator installations by 50% to 70%.

The U.K. government has committed to doubling onshore wind and quadrupling offshore wind installations by 2030, which the team estimates will require more than 10,000 extra turbines.

"We believe our technology directly addresses critical gaps in the U.K.'s offshore renewable energy supply chain. We aim to collaborate closely with manufacturers and original equipment manufacturers to scale up the production of our technology, ultimately expanding the Scottish and U.K. supply chains to meet the growing needs of the sector," says Dr. Joseph Burchell.

Commercial venture

Supported by Edinburgh Innovations, the University of Edinburgh's commercialization service, the CGEN team has been working with various companies to design and test their technology.

These include University start-up Mocean Energy, which is using CGEN's generator technology in its BlueX wave energy machine.

"We are delighted to have supported the CGEN team through to company formation. CGEN's technology provides a solution to several 'pain points' for offshore renewables and we look forward to working with manufacturers and investors to reach full commercial scale. It is through innovation—translating cutting-edge research into solutions to global challenges—that we will make progress in tackling complex problems like climate change," says Dr. Andrea Taylor.