Swimmer Turbine: Hidden Sea Power for Coastal Towns
Engineer David Mummery develops the 50kW Swimmer Turbine, a compact tidal energy generator that coastal communities can assemble themselves.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- David Mummery developed the Swimmer Turbine, a 50kW tidal power generator.
- The fiberglass and steel device rests on the sea floor, powering about 30 homes.
- Local fishermen can assemble and install the compact turbine without heavy cranes.
- Prototypes were successfully tested in the Scottish Highlands and Luing island.
Deep in a secret location within the Scottish Highlands, engineer David Mummery immersed himself in fast-flowing rapids over a decade ago. By letting the current rush over him with a cord tied across the river, he sought to physically understand how water turbulence interacts with marine energy devices.
This hands-on experience led to the creation of the Swimmer Turbine, a 50-kilowatt tidal generator developed by his company, Flex Marine Power. Anchored securely to the sea floor, the fiberglass and steel apparatus remains hidden beneath the water surface while generating enough electricity to supply roughly 30 homes.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Unlike massive multi-megawatt Scottish tidal projects such as Nova Innovation in Bluemull Sound, MeyGen in the Pentland Firth, and the floating Orbital O2 turbine in the Orkney Islands, Mummery's design focuses on ultra-compact scaling and low deployment costs.
Mummery compares the assembly process to flat-pack furniture, noting that the device arrives in a shipping container with approximately 20 components. This allows local workers and fishermen to build and launch the turbine directly from their village harbors without requiring expensive heavy-lift equipment.
"Can you imagine like an Ikea furniture kit? You get a shipping container and you'll open it up and it will be about 20 components."
David Mummery
Mummery initially tested his concepts in secret during the early 2010s to avoid Highland tourists. He later gained valuable experience working on the ground-breaking 180-meter Pelamis wave power project with Scottish Power Renewables in Orkney in 2010, prior to the device entering administration in 2014.
The shift from utility-scale marine energy projects requiring hundreds of tonnes of mainland equipment to localized, modular turbines highlights a growing trend toward community-empowered renewable energy systems. This decentralized approach minimizes infrastructure barriers for remote coastal regions.
Seeking a suitable workspace, Mummery collaborated with Inverclyde's redevelopment authority to utilize former shipyards in Greenock along the River Clyde. Following a successful 2015 trial on the island of Luing near Oban, Flex Marine Power secured vital investment and expanded its trials to Strangford Narrows in Northern Ireland by 2020.
Source: BBC Science & Environment
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