Dutch startup Equinox Ocean Turbines has secured new funding to accelerate the development of its innovative jet-sized underwater wind turbine, which will be entirely powered by ocean currents.
The investment, provided through the Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland (SNN) Valorisatie program and the European Regional Development Fund (EFRO), comes as part of a broader initiative to commercialize new clean energy solutions across the continent.
Carried out in collaboration with the University of Groningen, the project aims to deliver a scalable, low-impact clean energy solution by developing a jet-sized underwater turbine that can generate up to three megawatts (MW) of electricity from steady ocean currents.
The system boasts a 50-meter (164 feet) concrete rotor with smaller turbines at each end and is designed to operate entirely below the surface, causing no visual or environmental impact.
A third clean energy source
While the exact amount of funding has not been disclosed, Equinox Ocean Turbines representatives confirmed that the support will help push the ocean current turbine technology closer to market readiness.
“This support accelerates our mission to harness clean energy from ocean currents,” the company said, and thanked its funding partners and university collaborators for their trust in the technology’s transformative potential.
Ocean currents remain one of the most underutilized energy sources on Earth, offering a constant, predictable flow of power around the clock. The company’s innovative solution harnesses this powerful resource using a unique two-stage turbine built into a semi-floating platform.
Equinox Ocean Turbines’ innovative tech will reportedly operate with no visual or environmental impact.
Credit: Equinox Ocean Turbines BV
According to the firm, what truly sets the system apart is its potential to become a third major clean energy source, complementing solar and wind. However, unlike these intermittent sources, ocean current energy can provide reliable baseload power with minimal environmental impact.
The first commercial turbine, set to launch in 2027, will operate entirely beneath the surface and is expected to generate up to three megawatts of electricity, even at low flow speeds.
Due to its submerged design, the system eliminates visual disruption and is engineered to minimize ecological impact, providing a low-impact solution for consistent, clean energy generation.
Building a cleaner future
The latest round of funding follows a successful seed round closed in July last year, where Equinox Ocean Turbines raised EUR 2.4 million (USD 2.7 million) from EIT InnoEnergy, Damen Maritime Ventures, NOM, FOM, Init Power, and two private investors.
The firm revealed that the capital secured in that round supported their early-stage development, third-party technology verification, and initial market analysis.
“We’re looking forward to get this technology to market readiness and paving the way for commercial success of the ocean energy sector,” Pieter de Haas, Equinox Ocean Turbines’ CEO, said in a press release.
“This is a significant step towards fulfilling our ambition of making the marine energy sector a commercial reality,” de Haas concluded.
“Now is the right time to combine efforts and experience of many parties to make Ocean Current Energy a new reality in the energy mix.”
Equinox is leveraging the maritime expertise of its strategic partner Damen Shipyards, whose role is expected to be crucial in ensuring the timely construction and deployment of the turbine system.