Spiralis Energy has unveiled its scalable “shell-like” tidal energy system, the Axial Skelter, on the island of Alderney.
Each Spiralis Energy Axial Skelter will produce enough energy in one day to brew over 250,000 cups of tea.
By harnessing the UK’s tidal potential, Spiralis Energy aims to capture power from tidal currents and river flows to generate clean, reliable, and cost-effective electricity.
Unlike other offshore technologies, the Axial Skelter has no sharp edges, no fast-moving parts, and it does not disturb the seabed, Spiralis said.
Through its trials, the company will prove it has no negative impact on the marine environment, it added.
The event marks the official launch of the developer’s Tides2Tea campaign, an initiative highlighting how sustainable tidal systems can transform communities and contribute to a more affordable, sustainable and predictable energy future.
Spiralis Energy is showcasing to the local community of Alderney how the Axial Skelter works, with display boards and a Q&A session with its team.
This will give residents an insight into how the island could potentially use tidal power as part of its energy mix, reducing the reliance on diesel fuelled power generation to introduce a more cost effective and sustainable source of power, it said.
Spiralis Energy is asking the UK public to support its Tides2Tea campaign by purchasing a future cup of tea from the tide.
The campaign aims to prove that tidal energy can be an affordable contributor to power generation in the UK.
Those who participate in the campaign will have their name printed onto the inaugural Axial Skelter that will be deployed in Alderney waters in 2025.
Spiralis Energy will install cameras and sensors as part of the testing to monitor the ecology and wildlife, with the collected data being shared with the Alderney Wildlife Trust.
At slack tide once a live feed is established, supporters of the campaign will have the opportunity to look for their name featured on Alderney’s inaugural skelter.
The unique thing about Spiralis’ Axial Skelter is that it can be used in any flowing water of sufficient depth, the developer said.
This includes rivers, waves, and tides. Spiralis Energy plans to trial its Axial Skelter off the coast of Alderney, but longer-term it will be used for island communities, to feed power into national grid networks, and may even be used to power private applications such as data centres or hydrogen production.
Chief executive of Spiralis Energy Guy Levene said: “The Tides2Tea campaign is more than just an exciting showcase of our technology – it is a call to action for a cleaner, more predictable energy future.
“The Alderney Race is the perfect stage to demonstrate the immense potential of tidal energy, a resource that is not only sustainable but entirely reliable.
“By inviting the public to join this journey, we are showing how innovation, community, and action can come together to create a world where our greatest natural resource brings progress and opportunity.
“Alderney represents the future of what’s possible, and we are proud to pioneer an energy transformation with the support of the island’s community – and all for the price of a cup of tea.”