Inyanga Marine Energy Group has awarded the fabrication contract to build its HydroWing tidal energy device to Hutchinson Engineering.
The 20 MW HydroWing tidal energy array will be deployed at Morlais off Anglesey in Wales, one of the largest consented tidal energy projects in Europe.
The contract with Hutchinson Engineering covers the fabrication of the foundation frame and the rear nacelle, including welding, painting and coating to a specification capable of withstanding the harsh underwater environment. The foundation frame will weigh 120 tons, with an energy yield of 1.2 MW from a single unit. The nacelle is 19 metres high. Made of structural steel, the foundation frame will have a lifespan of 25 years and will be manufactured with full consideration of sustainability, including decommissioning at the end of its lifespan.
The foundation frame will be part constructed at Hutchinson Engineering's factory in Cheshire and final construction will take place quayside in Wales. The tidal energy prototype will deploy in the first quarter of 2026.
Richard Parkinson, CEO of Inyanga Marine Energy Group, said: "Hutchinson Engineering have all the engineering expertise and ingenuity required to turn our innovative tidal stream technology concept into reality. The tidal energy scheme at Morlais is the largest of its kind in the world and this is a once in a generation opportunity to prove the full potential of tidal energy, really putting Wales on the map as a global pioneer in renewable energy."
Steve Adams, MD of Hutchinson Engineering, said: "We are extremely excited about winning the contract for this groundbreaking project. We pride ourselves on all our fabrications having a positive impact on the world and so this will be a flagship project for us. It is an opportunity to fabricate advanced technology that is expected to become a world leader in tidal energy."
Andy Billcliff, CEO of Menter Mon Morlais, added: "The award of the first fabrication contract is a significant milestone in our exciting journey to deliver tidal energy at Morlais, providing economic and sustainability benefits for Wales and the UK, as well as demonstrating the global commercial viability of tidal energy."
Earlier this month, the Welsh Government announced a £2 million equity investment in Inyanga Marine Energy Group. This was part of a wider funding round by Inyanga Marine Energy Group, which is also progressing projects in France, Southeast Asia and Canada.
For more information contact Lynn File. lynn@brandinnovation.co.uk
About Inyanga Marine Energy Group and HydroWing
Inyanga Marine Energy Group develops cutting-edge solutions for the global offshore renewables industry. Inyanga Marine Energy Group operates a highly experienced and specialised team of offshore engineers from their head office in Falmouth, UK. The company also has offices in Quimper in France, Anglesey in Wales, and Nova Scotia in Canada.
Inyanga Marine Energy Group has two divisions - HydroWing, which focuses on tidal energy technology development, and Inyanga Maritime, which delivers offshore engineering and installation. The company aims to advance through to deployment of the innovative tidal energy converter, the HydroWing, to provide cost-effective, reliable, and predictable power to communities around the globe.
In September 2024, Inyanga Marine Energy Group was awarded 10MW for their tidal energy project at Morlais through Allocation Round 6 (AR6) of the UK government's Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme. This doubles the scale of their project, which uses their innovative HydroWing technology, to 20MW, building on their successful 10MW award in the previous allocation round. This allocation was the largest tidal stream project in the UK in the latest Contracts for Difference round. Inyanga Marine Energy Group have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Verdant Morlais Ltd to deliver a further 4.9MW Tidal Stream Energy project at Morlais.
In May 2025, the Welsh Government announced a £2 million equity investment in Inyanga Marine Energy Group, reinforcing Wales' commitment to renewable energy development.
For more information, visit https://inyangamarine.com/
About Hutchinson Engineering
Established over 45 years ago, Hutchinson has an unrivalled track record in the design, manufacture, assembly, and servicing of complex steelwork products for the telecoms, offshore & onshore wind, oil & gas, rail, nuclear, and energy industries. Their success comes from combining innovative technology and machinery with the skilled workforce driving their operations. Their focus is on continuous skill enhancement and operational refinement across their organisation.
Based in Widnes, UK, Hutchinson has a team of 180 staff and 10,000 square metres of fabrication space spread over two sites.
Their modern manufacturing hubs include the latest robotic welding, precision plasma, laser and CNC cutting technologies, raising their engineering capabilities to the highest levels.
With state-of-the-art design, fabrication, and manufacturing facilities, Hutchinson delivers high-quality, cost-effective solutions for clients worldwide.
For more information, visit https://hutchinsonengineering.co.uk/
About the Morlais Demonstration Zone
The Morlais site is Europe's largest consented tidal energy scheme, managed by the social enterprise Menter Môn. Menter Môn manages an area of 35 km2 of the seabed near Holy Island, Anglesey. The scheme has the potential to generate up to 240MW of low carbon clean electricity. The aim is to play a role in tackling climate change while delivering economic and social benefit to local communities and the wider region.
The project and the way in which it will operate is unique, and the only one of its kind in the world. Morlais provides the necessary infrastructure in the zone, including a connection to the national grid and substations on the shore. It rents berths to various turbine development companies so they can use tidal energy to generate electricity.
For more details visit: https://www.morlaisenergy.com/en/about-us/the-morlais-story
