Aquamarine Power
Aquamarine Power was a British marine-energy company established to commercialise the Oyster near-shore wave-energy converter.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Aquamarine Power was a Scottish marine-energy technology company founded in 2005 to develop and commercialise the Oyster wave-energy converter. The company grew out of wave-power research conducted at Queen's University Belfast in 2003 by a team led by Professor Trevor Whittaker. The research was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and by Allan Thomson, a renewable-energy entrepreneur who had previously founded Wavegen, an early commercial wave-power company. Thomson subsequently established Aquamarine Power to turn the Oyster concept into a deployable electricity-generation system. The Oyster was designed for near-shore installation. A large hinged flap positioned on the seabed in relatively shallow water moved with passing waves. That motion drove hydraulic equipment, while the power-conversion machinery was positioned onshore rather than being exposed to the marine environment. This arrangement was intended to simplify maintenance, reduce offshore electrical complexity, and make wave energy more practical at commercial scale. Aquamarine tested two principal generations of the technology at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, one of the world's leading marine-energy test locations. The first full-scale Oyster demonstrator, rated at 315 kW, began producing electricity at EMEC's Billia Croo wave test site in November 2009. A larger second-generation unit, known as Oyster 2 or Oyster 800 because of its approximately 800 kW rating, was tested at the same site from 2012 through 2015. Aquamarine originally envisaged a three-device installation with a combined capacity of 2.4 MW, provisionally described as the Orkney Wave Power Station, but only one device was installed. The Oyster 800 test programme concluded in early 2015 and the machine was subsequently mothballed. Aquamarine also pursued wider marine-energy opportunities. Between 2007 and 2009 it worked on Neptune, a tidal-stream turbine concept consisting of two three-bladed horizontal-axis turbines mounted on opposite sides of a monopile foundation. The company ordered electrical systems for two turbines from ABB in 2009, but abandoned the tidal programme later that year to concentrate its resources on wave energy. It also developed plans for the Lewis Wave Energy Farm, a proposed 40 MW project off the Isle of Lewis in the Western Isles. The scheme envisaged 40 to 50 Oyster devices and received full consents in 2013, but its prospects depended on electricity-grid improvements and a high-voltage interconnector that was not expected to be available soon enough to support the planned development timetable. The company attracted investment from Scottish & Southern Energy interests, ABB Group, Sigma Capital Group, Scottish Enterprise, and other backers. In its later years, Aquamarine sought to reduce the cost and broaden the applicability of marine-energy systems through WavePOD, a power-take-off subsystem developed with Carnegie Wave Energy and Bosch Rexroth. Despite its technical demonstrations, project development activity, and industry recognition, the company faced the broader commercial and financing difficulties affecting wave energy. Its workforce was reduced substantially, from approximately 50 employees to 18 during 2014. BBC News reported in October 2015 that the company had entered administration. No buyer was found, and Aquamarine Power ceased trading in November 2015, with the loss of 14 jobs.
History
Aquamarine Power's origins lay in wave-energy research undertaken at Queen's University Belfast in 2003. Professor Trevor Whittaker led the research team, which investigated a near-shore wave-energy concept later known as Oyster. The work received support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and from Allan Thomson, who had previously founded and led Wavegen, an early commercial wave-energy enterprise. Thomson founded Aquamarine Power in 2005 to advance the technology beyond research and into commercial development. The Oyster concept used a seabed-mounted hinged flap installed in relatively shallow water. Waves moved the flap back and forth, and the resulting motion was converted into hydraulic power. Aquamarine's design placed the main power-conversion equipment onshore, a configuration intended to reduce the exposure of sensitive machinery to the marine environment and simplify maintenance. The company entered into a number of industrial and research relationships as it developed the system. Scottish & Southern Energy's subsidiary Renewable Technology Ventures invested in Aquamarine in 2007 and again in 2010. In February 2009, Aquamarine and Queen's University Belfast extended their research partnership, while a separate agreement with Airtricity, then a Scottish & Southern Energy subsidiary, addressed the development of marine-energy sites using Oyster. Aquamarine's first full-scale demonstrator began generating power in November 2009 at the European Marine Energy Centre's Billia Croo wave test site off western Mainland Orkney. The 315 kW machine provided a practical test of the company's near-shore approach. The business subsequently developed Oyster 2, also called Oyster 800, with an approximately 800 kW rated output. Testing took place at EMEC between 2012 and 2015. Aquamarine planned three devices with a total installed capacity of 2.4 MW in a project provisionally called the Orkney Wave Power Station, but only one device was installed. The company explored tidal energy as well as wave power. From 2007 to 2009, it worked on Neptune, a tidal-stream turbine design featuring two three-bladed horizontal turbines mounted on opposite sides of a monopile foundation. The design drew comparisons with the SeaGen tidal turbine concept. Aquamarine placed a contract with ABB in January 2009 for electrical systems for two turbines, but in April it announced that development of Neptune would stop so that resources could be concentrated on Oyster. Aquamarine also pursued utility-scale deployment. In March 2012 it announced plans for the Lewis Wave Energy Farm, a proposed installation of 40 to 50 Oyster devices off the north-west coast of the Isle of Lewis near Lag na Greine and Fivepenny Borve. The planned project was intended to have approximately 40 MW of capacity and potentially supply electricity to more than 38,000 homes. Scottish minister Fergus Ewing announced in May 2013 that the scheme had obtained full consents, making it the largest permitted wave project at that point. Development nevertheless depended on transmission upgrades. A new high-voltage interconnector was needed to move power from Lewis to mainland Scotland, and Scottish & Southern Energy indicated that the interconnector would not be available before 2017, placing the timetable for the project and other renewable schemes under pressure. After completing the Oyster 800 testing programme in early 2015, Aquamarine mothballed the device and shifted attention toward WavePOD, a power-take-off subsystem being developed with Carnegie Wave Energy and Bosch Rexroth. The aim was to create a lower-cost, more adaptable subsystem that could be used with different wave-energy devices. The company had already reduced its workforce significantly, from about 50 employees to 18 during the previous year. Despite awards and recognition, including renewable-energy and technology-industry prizes and inclusion in the 2010 Global Cleantech 100, Aquamarine could not secure a buyer or financing sufficient to continue operations. It entered administration in October 2015 and ceased trading in November 2015, resulting in the loss of 14 jobs.
- 2015
Oyster 800 programme ends
[1]The Oyster 800 test programme concludes and the device is mothballed as the company redirects its focus toward WavePOD.
- 2015
Company ceases trading
[1]Aquamarine enters administration in October and ceases trading in November after no buyer is found.
- 2013
Lewis Wave Energy Farm receives consents
[1]The proposed 40 MW Lewis project receives full consents, subject to infrastructure and grid-development conditions.
- 2012
Oyster 800 testing begins
[1]Aquamarine begins testing its second-generation Oyster 800 device at EMEC.
- 2009
First full-scale Oyster demonstrator operates
[1]The 315 kW Oyster demonstrator begins generating electricity at EMEC's Billia Croo test site in Orkney.
- 2007
Renewable Technology Ventures invests
[1]The Scottish & Southern Energy subsidiary Renewable Technology Ventures becomes an investor in Aquamarine Power.
- 2005
Aquamarine Power is founded
[1]Allan Thomson establishes Aquamarine Power to commercialise the Oyster wave-energy technology.
- 2003
Oyster concept research begins
[1]A Queen's University Belfast research team led by Trevor Whittaker develops the research foundation for the Oyster near-shore wave-energy converter.
Products and positioning
A British marine-energy technology developer focused primarily on converting near-shore wave motion into electricity through seabed-mounted, hinged-flap systems.
Wave-energy converter · 2009
Oyster
The Oyster was Aquamarine Power's principal technology. It used a hinged flap mounted on the seabed in near-shore water. Wave movement caused the flap to oscillate, driving hydraulic equipment that transferred energy to onshore generation equipment. By locating much of the power-conversion system on land, the design sought to reduce offshore maintenance requirements and improve operational reliability compared with concepts that placed complete generating systems underwater.
Second-generation wave-energy converter · 2012
Oyster 800
Oyster 800, also referred to as Oyster 2, was the second-generation version of Aquamarine's wave-energy converter. It was rated at approximately 800 kW and underwent testing at EMEC in Orkney from 2012 to 2015. Aquamarine proposed using three devices in an Orkney project with a combined capacity of 2.4 MW, but only one unit was installed. The test programme ended in 2015 and the device was mothballed.
Tidal-stream turbine
Neptune
Neptune was Aquamarine's abandoned tidal-energy concept. It was designed around two three-bladed horizontal-axis turbines mounted on opposing sides of a monopile foundation. The company considered testing the design at EMEC and ordered electrical systems for two turbines from ABB, but ended development in 2009 to concentrate on the Oyster wave-energy programme.
Power take-off subsystem
WavePOD
WavePOD was a power take-off subsystem that Aquamarine developed with Carnegie Wave Energy and Bosch Rexroth after the Oyster 800 test programme. The intended strategy was to create a subsystem that could be adapted to multiple wave-energy devices and thereby help lower the cost of marine-energy deployment. The technology did not reach a commercially established product phase before Aquamarine ceased trading.
Marketing campaigns
- 2012Lewis Wave Energy Farm
United Kingdom · Scotland
Aquamarine proposed installing 40 to 50 Oyster devices off the north-west coast of the Isle of Lewis. The planned 40 MW project was intended to provide electricity for more than 38,000 homes and became one of the company's principal large-scale deployment initiatives.
Outcome. The project received full consents in 2013 but did not proceed to construction. Its schedule depended on a high-voltage interconnector and wider grid upgrades, while Aquamarine later entered administration and ceased trading.
Brand decisions
2015
Focus shifts from Oyster testing to WavePODStrategyBackground
The Oyster 800 test programme had concluded, and Aquamarine faced the cost and commercialisation challenges associated with deploying large wave-energy devices.
Action taken
The company mothballed Oyster 800 and concentrated on developing WavePOD, a potentially reusable power take-off subsystem.
Aftermath
Aquamarine subsequently entered administration and ceased trading before WavePOD could establish a commercial business.
2015
Company enters administrationOtherBackground
After downsizing and failing to secure a buyer or sufficient continuing support, Aquamarine was reported to have called in administrators.
Action taken
Administration proceedings began in October 2015, followed by the cessation of trading in November.
Aftermath
No buyer was found and 14 jobs were lost when the company closed.
2009
Aquamarine abandons Neptune tidal developmentStrategyBackground
The company had been developing the Neptune tidal-stream turbine concept and had ordered electrical systems for two turbines from ABB.
Action taken
Aquamarine stopped development of Neptune in April 2009 and redirected its resources toward the Oyster wave-energy converter.
Aftermath
The company's technology strategy became centred on wave energy rather than a combined wave-and-tidal portfolio.
Recent events
- 2015
Oyster 800 test programme concludes[1]
Product generation
Aquamarine completed testing of its second-generation Oyster 800 device at EMEC and mothballed the unit while focusing on power-take-off technology.
- 2015
Aquamarine Power enters administration[2]
Bankruptcy
BBC News reported that Aquamarine Power had called in administrators in October 2015 after failing to secure a sustainable commercial path.
- 2015
Aquamarine Power ceases trading[1]
Bankruptcy
No buyer was found following administration, and the company ceased trading in November with the loss of 14 jobs.
- 2013
Lewis Wave Energy Farm receives full consents[1]
Other · Regulation
The proposed 40 MW wave-energy scheme off Lewis received full consents, although grid-connection requirements remained a major constraint.
- 2009
Aquamarine Power announces Oyster wave-energy demonstrator at EMEC[1]
Product launch · Product generation
The company's first full-scale Oyster demonstrator began generating electricity at the European Marine Energy Centre's Billia Croo test site in Orkney.
- 2009
Aquamarine Power raises investment for marine-energy development[1]
Other
Aquamarine announced a new investment round involving ABB Group, Scottish and Southern Energy interests, and earlier investors.
Sources2 sources
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