New case study: sustainable energy access for offshore aquaculture

This project explored a modular approach to renewable energy generation in conjunction with aquaculture in high-energy/offshore locations

As global demand for seafood increases, farming in deeper, high‑energy waters is seen as a major opportunity. Offshore sites may improve water quality, reduce disease risks and lower reliance on fossil fuels. However, they also bring engineering, operational and welfare challenges.

This project explored how renewable energy systems could be combined with offshore aquaculture to support the sector’s growth in a sustainable way.

Valued at £92k, the project was funded by Innovate UK Design Foundations. It was led by Frontier Technical, with support from SAIC, Fort William Underwater Trials Centre (FWUTC), and the Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock (CIEL), Blackfish Engineering, Holland Gubb and Morek Engineering.

The project investigated a new modular approach to powering offshore fish farms. Instead of relying on large, utility‑scale turbines, smaller, interchangeable renewable energy modules could be positioned and connected according to farm needs. This modular system could reduce installation costs, allow transport by normal road and rail, and offer more flexibility for remote sites.

To ensure the design met industry requirements, Frontier Technical worked with aquaculture producers, regulators, engineers and academics. Support from a steering group (SAIC, Fort William Underwater Trials Centre, and CIEL) helped guide site visits and interviews. These conversations highlighted challenges such as staff safety offshore, carbon reduction, and the technical limitations of current equipment.

Using industrial design techniques with Blackfish Engineering, stakeholder insights were translated into engineering requirements. Several concepts were explored, leading to the selection of a ‘six‑pointed star’ floating platform design for further modelling. Morek Engineering tested its performance using environmental data from west of the Outer Hebrides, confirming it could handle both normal and extreme conditions.

The concept is intended to support offshore farms equivalent to four standard 100‑metre Scottish pens, with integrated space for nets, personnel access, energy storage, fish transfer and vessel recharging.

With initial design work completed, progress towards a prototype can now be made. The project builds on earlier Innovate UK work (MARLIN STAR) and aims to conduct future trials in Scottish farming regions. The long‑term goal is to create practical, low‑carbon offshore platforms that support the aquaculture sector’s transition to sustainable, scalable operations.

The full title of this project is ‘MARLIN AQUA: Sustainable energy access for offshore aquaculture’.

Read the case study