QED Naval’s community scale Subhub tidal platform, capable of delivering 240kW to remote island or off-grid communities, has been towed 200 miles from Ireland to Pembroke Dock in Wales for fitting of Tocardo tidal turbines.

After two years at sea in Strangford Lough, Ireland, QED Naval’s ‘Subhub’ tidal energy platform - capable of delivering 240kW to remote island or off-grid communities - has been towed over 200 nautical miles to Pembroke Dock in Wales, for the fitting of its new Tocardo tidal turbines.

QED Naval’s, self-deploying, submersible, foundation system, ‘Subhub’, is helping pave the way and showcasing a cost reduction pathway for tidal energy globally. Having spent two years evidencing its durability and operational capability at sea, it has demonstrated its ease of deployment over large distances and ability to cut operating costs. QED will now go on to evidence its improvements on turbine yields using Tocardo’s proven turbine technology, a company it acquired in a joint venture in 2020.
UK Companies like QED are to a large extent investing in and fronting the sector globally with its industry-leading research and cost reduction, particularly as they wait for the UK to announce its energy strategy and potential funding initiatives.
The success of this recent operation is yet another important step for the marine energy sector. It shows that submersible, mobile platforms can be deployed without hugely expensive marine operations, seabed impact, shipping and lifting. It has also shown an ability to deploy in relatively high sea states and wind conditions. QED said they were delighted that its self-deploying system had shown such robustness, operational simplicity, and an ability to both save cost and deploy in weather where other systems would have been left waiting in harbour”.
QED Naval’s Managing Director Jeremy Smith remarked on the significance of Subhub’s journey across the Irish Sea, “This is a major milestone for the Subhub and the EU’s Interreg TIGER project, which will go on to further validate QED’s Subhub, design tools, as well as the energy yields of our new Tocardo tidal turbines”.
As tidal energy continues to show its potential as a predictable energy source, and the UK attempts to maintain its lead, it is important that such systems are well validated. QED’s operation, held within UK coastal waters, was reviewed and checked by The Marine Coastguard Agency, who gave all necessary approvals and helped QED set operational best practice for the future with load line assessments, surveys and certification. Important insurance verification was also achieved through the use of Marine Warranty Insurance Surveyors.
With Wales’s Mainstay Marine providing yard and fabrication services, Williams Shipping was selected for towing operations who, with their operational bases in Pembroke, Southampton and Fawley will help with ongoing operational requirements for QED Naval and its EU TIGER project.
Jess Hooper, Programme Manager at Marine Energy Wales commented; "We are delighted to see our experienced Welsh supply chain continuing to secure contracts to support this growing sector. Wales is now clearly on the map in the emerging offshore renewables market and our strategic projects, diverse supply chain networks and skilled workforce clearly provide an attractive backdrop for companies seeking fabrication and support services. We look forward to seeing QED’s onward success and the results of their next phase of deployment demonstrating ongoing cost reductions to the benefit of the sector”
Helping pave the way for UK tidal energy through the EU €45.4 million Interreg TIGER project, QED and its Subhub will demonstrate how tidal energy can be quickly and cost effectively deployed, and how yields on turbines can be improved by as much as 48%. Having been in the water for over two years, and deployed over large distances in a broad range of weather conditions, it really has shown its versatility and ease of use.
When used in conjunction with the well proven Dutch Tocardo turbines, which have been in operation for over 10 years - including use in the Netherland’s iconic Oosterschelde Dam - QED’s strategy of collaboration and strong partnering is beginning to pay dividends as it secures its sites and supply chain for the future. With a possible £1.4bn tidal energy GVA by 2030 alone, this vision and collaboration will ultimately benefit both the prosperity of the sector and the UK economy as a whole.