Mor Energy – Company Background
Mor Energy has been established to develop and deliver commercial tidal energy projects throughout the Celtic Sea and Welsh waters, supporting Wales’ transition to a low-carbon economy while creating long-term economic, industrial and community benefits. As a Welsh-focused renewable energy developer and subsidiary of QED Naval, Mor Energy is dedicated to harnessing the exceptional tidal resources around the Welsh coastline and converting them into reliable, predictable and locally generated renewable electricity. By combining proven tidal turbine technology with innovative deployment solutions, the company aims to accelerate the commercialisation of tidal stream energy and contribute to the UK’s energy security and net-zero ambitions.
The company’s immediate focus is the development of tidal energy projects within the Morlais tidal energy zone off Holy Island, Anglesey, one of the most significant tidal energy development sites in Europe, with the potential to support up to 240 MW of installed tidal generation capacity. Beyond Morlais, Mor Energy is actively assessing further opportunities around the Welsh coastline, including future developments along the Pembrokeshire coast and wider Celtic Sea region, where abundant tidal resources provide substantial opportunities for long-term renewable energy generation and regional economic growth.
Currently, Mor Energy operates from M-SParc on Anglesey, benefiting from close collaboration with academia, technology developers and the growing clean energy sector in North Wales. As the business expands, plans are being developed to establish a permanent engineering, assembly and operational base within the Holyhead Freeport area, creating a centre of excellence for tidal energy deployment, turbine assembly, commissioning and maintenance. This development aligns with Mor Energy’s ambition to help establish Holyhead as the UK’s leading “Tidal Town”, building upon Anglesey’s long-standing reputation as an Energy Island, historically shaped by major energy infrastructure such as the Wylfa nuclear power station.
The Morlais Opportunity
A key enabler for Mor Energy’s growth is the pioneering work undertaken by Morlais Menter Môn, the social enterprise behind the Morlais project. Over more than a decade, Menter Môn has successfully secured and developed the infrastructure, consents and agreements required to create a world-leading tidal energy deployment zone off the coast of Holy Island. The organisation has obtained all major onshore and offshore planning and environmental consents from Natural Resources Wales, secured long-term seabed rights from The Crown Estate, and established grid connection infrastructure capable of supporting large-scale tidal energy projects.
The Morlais scheme encompasses approximately 35 km² of seabed within the former West Anglesey Demonstration Zone and has been designed to support multiple tidal energy technology developers operating within a common consented area and shared electrical infrastructure. This innovative model significantly reduces development risk, time and cost for technology providers by removing many of the consenting, permitting and grid connection challenges that would otherwise need to be addressed on a project-by-project basis.
With a fully consented pathway to deploy up to 240 MW of tidal energy capacity, Morlais provides one of the world’s most attractive locations for commercial tidal energy development. Technology developers can focus resources on proving and commercialising their technologies rather than undertaking lengthy and costly consenting programmes. By providing pre-consented seabed access, established grid connections and supporting infrastructure, Morlais enables the rapid deployment of innovative tidal energy systems while accelerating cost reduction across the sector.
For Mor Energy, the existence of this world-class development platform provides a unique opportunity to fast-track project delivery using proven Tocardo turbines and QED Naval’s Subhub platform technology. As additional phases of Morlais are connected and grid capacity continues to expand, the site is expected to become a focal point for tidal energy innovation, investment and manufacturing, helping to establish North Wales as a globally recognised hub for marine renewable energy.
5+
Successful projects finished
30+
Years of experience in Marine Technology
£5m+
Project income since 2014
10+
FTE Colleagues & counting more daily