Recently, the Dutch startup Equinox Ocean Turbines has received new funding to accelerate the development of its innovative jet-powered underwater wind turbine. This turbine is fully powered by ocean currents and is expected to bring new breakthroughs to the clean energy sector.

This investment is provided by the North Netherlands Alliance (SNN) Valorisatie program and the European Regional Development Fund (EFRO), as part of broader European initiatives to commercialize novel clean energy solutions on the continent.

The project is being conducted in collaboration with the University of Groningen, aiming to deliver scalable, low-impact clean energy solutions through the development of jet-powered underwater turbines. This turbine can harness stable ocean currents to generate up to 3MW of electricity. Its system features a 50m (164-foot) long concrete rotor with smaller turbines at each end, designed to operate entirely underwater, without causing visual or environmental impacts.

Although the specific funding amount has not been disclosed, representatives from Equinox Ocean Turbines confirmed that this support will bring the ocean current turbine technology closer to market readiness. The company stated: "This support accelerates our mission to harness ocean currents for clean energy." They also expressed gratitude to the funding partners and university collaborators for their trust in the technology's transformative potential.

Ocean currents are one of the most underutilized energy sources on Earth, capable of providing stable, predictable electricity around the clock. Equinox Ocean Turbines' innovative solution leverages this energy with a unique two-stage turbine installed on a semi-floating platform. The company believes that the true advantage of this system lies in its potential to become the third major clean energy source after solar and wind. Unlike intermittent sources such as solar and wind, ocean current energy can provide reliable baseload power while minimizing environmental impact.

The first commercial turbine is scheduled for launch in 2027, operating entirely underwater and expected to generate up to 3MW of electricity even at low flow speeds. Due to its underwater design, the system eliminates visual disturbances and aims to minimize ecological impact, providing a low-impact solution for continuous, clean energy production.

Notably, this latest round of financing follows the successful completion of the company's seed round in July of last year. At that time, Equinox Ocean Turbines raised €2.4 million ($2.7 million) from EIT InnoEnergy, Damen Maritime Ventures, NOM, FOM, Init Power, and two private investors. The company revealed that this round of funding will support its early development, third-party technology validation, and initial market analysis.

Equinox Ocean Turbines CEO Pieter de Haas stated in a press release: "We look forward to this technology entering the market, paving the way for commercial success in the marine energy sector." He also summarized: "This is an important step toward achieving our goal of commercializing ocean energy. Now is the best time to combine the efforts and experience of many parties to make ocean current energy a new reality in the energy mix."