It Looks Like a Wind Turbine, but This One Lives on the Seabed

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Bristol-based Proteus Marine Renewables builds seabed-mounted tidal turbines that look like wind turbines but tap currents in water more than 800 times denser than air.

It looks like a wind turbine that sank to the bottom of the sea. Turns out, that’s exactly where it belongs.

It’s a tidal turbine from Proteus Marine Renewables, a British company that grew out of tidal pioneer Atlantis.

Why underwater? Seawater is more than 800 times denser than air, so even a slow current packs a punch.

Here’s the clever bit. The tide reverses about four times a day, so the whole nacelle swivels to face the new flow. And each of its three blades adjusts its own angle.

It all sits on a heavy base on the seabed, with nothing showing above the waves.

Its 1.1-megawatt AR1100 started feeding Japan’s grid off the Goto Islands in 2025.

Next comes the AR3000, rated at 3 megawatts with a rotor just 24 metres wide. Vestas’ 3-megawatt V90 wind turbine needs one 90 metres across.

Four of them are headed for France’s Raz Blanchard, with first power targeted for 2028.

The catch? In Britain’s latest power auctions, tidal won a price nearly three times higher than offshore wind.

But tides run on the moon’s schedule, so you know when the power is coming. Wind can’t promise that.

a month ago

Energy

It Looks Like a Wind Turbine, but This One Lives on the Seabed

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