Scotland’s Orbital Marine Power has just secured £7 million in fresh funding, marking a major milestone in the global push for tidal energy. This development, announced on December 9, 2025, is more than just a financial boost, it’s a step towards making tidal power not only a cleaner energy source but an economically viable alternative. As someone who has bootstrapped multiple startups and invested heavily in circular solutions, I see this as a turning point for entrepreneurs looking at climate-focused innovation.
Orbital, headquartered in Orkney, stands out largely because of its O2 turbine, the world’s most powerful tidal generator. Using floating technology that taps into predictable tidal currents, their systems offer reliable and consistent energy, a quality wind and solar typically cannot meet. This new investment, with funding led by PXN Ventures and ongoing support from Scottish Enterprise, is set to help Orbital double its turbine fleet and expand its international projects.
Why Orbital's Funding Breakthrough Catches My Attention
As a female entrepreneur balancing two priorities, financial sustainability and global impact, this announcement hits very close to home. Tidal energy, much like entrepreneurship, requires persistence in the face of unpredictability and immense up-front investment. Let’s break down why Orbital Marine Power’s success story could inspire European entrepreneurs, especially women, to embrace cross-sector innovations.
First, Orbital’s O2 tidal turbine exemplifies a profitable marriage of technology and sustainability. With a capacity to power up to 18,000 homes, this turbine gives us a concrete example of how clean energy can solve practical, large-scale energy demands by utilizing resources like tidal power that we often overlook.
Second, the UK government’s commitment through Contracts for Difference (CfDs) and Orbital’s global ambitions show what state-backed programs and private investment partnerships can achieve when aligned for sustainability. This has implications beyond energy; the same collaborative model could apply to other pressing global issues like food security or digital inequality.
What Sets This Technology Apart
The success of Orbital’s O2 turbine can’t be understated. Here’s a quick overview for those unfamiliar with its capabilities:
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Energy Output: The O2 generates 2 MW of energy daily and operates in all weather conditions, thanks to its design that floats with the tides rather than being fixed underwater.
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Scalability: Recent investments will allow Orbital to install six additional turbines at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney, doubling its current capacity.
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Supply Chain Promise: About 70% of the £200 million spent on Orbital’s projects already stays within the UK, a huge boost for regional jobs.
What excites me as an entrepreneur is how this model, focused on consistent outputs and easy scalability, works around the inherent unpredictability of renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Entrepreneurs working in problem-solving industries can take a note: predictable deliverables build trust.
For Entrepreneurs: Lessons From Orbital’s Momentum
Achieving high-impact, sustainable goals depends on several factors that Orbital Marine Power employs effectively. Here are some lessons the entrepreneurial community can adapt:
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Stay Ahead With Funding Partners
Orbital’s ability to secure funding from players like PXN Ventures shows the importance of choosing partners who understand your mission deeply. Early-stage entrepreneurs should invest time not just finding capital but finding aligned investors willing to stay involved long-term. -
Expand Without Losing Focus
Expanding internationally, such as Orbital’s new project licenses in Canada, can spread risks and unlock larger revenues. That said, the company keeps its core focus on scalable, predictable energy, contrasting sharply with companies that scale too fast or into unrelated areas. Growing startups beware: focus wins markets. -
Leverage Public Incentives
Government CfDs provide Orbital reliable income on their energy outputs, incentivizing growth. Think of this as pre-agreed orders. If you’re in Europe or regions like Canada, tapping into similar government green-tech or STEM support schemes can open doors much faster than bootstrap-only models.
Common Mistakes Startups Can Avoid
Even with these lessons, there are also pitfalls we need to be aware of when trying to emulate Orbital’s success:
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Ignoring Long-Term Viability Over High-Tech Buzz
It might be tempting for early-stage projects to focus solely on “the next big tech.” The reality? Orbital’s true genius lies in simplifying maintenance and operational costs, something most entrepreneurs overlook early on. -
Overlooking Local Dynamics
While Orbital thrives globally, its clear support of local economic ecosystems ensures success in its home region. Entrepreneurs expanding abroad should constantly ask, “What’s my community engagement strategy?” -
Overestimating Speed of Returns
Changes will come, but slowly. Tidal energy, for example, took decades to see lower costs per kilowatt-hour compared to its fossil counterparts. Entrepreneurs should be realistic about growth timelines in industries requiring large infrastructure or regulatory approvals.
How To Get Started In Impactful Industries
For women founders and solo entrepreneurs like me, who often bootstrap rather than raise VC rounds, Orbital’s results can still provide guidance. Here’s a short “how-to” for building something with lasting impact:
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Start With Predictability: Whether in energy or tech, projects that solve consistent problems (like infrastructure efficiency) get funded faster. For example, in my education-tech ventures, I used AI analytics but coupled them with integrated career forecasts, giving users predictable outcomes they could trust.
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Build the Right Pitch: Tie your product’s profitability strongly with its sustainability. Investors today want both returns and measurable impact metrics.
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Look for Local Partnerships: Orbital worked with UK government-backed aids, while one of my first steps was finding funding opportunities backed by Dutch accelerators. You’d be amazed at how many untapped funds for women entrepreneurs exist in Europe.
Final Thoughts On Orbital’s Tidal Legacy
The tidal energy sector is not just something for energy-tech startups. For founders across industries, Orbital Marine Power’s commitment to economic and ecological stability offers an archetype worth studying. As a serial entrepreneur, what stood out to me wasn’t just their engineering prowess but their ability to engage multiple stakeholders, local economies, government, and international investors.
Scotland is now redefining how small nations and private initiatives can lead in renewables. And as women founders, why shouldn’t we also lead in sustainable solutions? After all, it’s about creating something that works not just for today, but the generations that follow.
For more details, explore Orbital Marine Power official updates. This could inspire your next clean-tech idea!
FAQ
1. What is Orbital Marine Power known for?
Orbital Marine Power is recognized for operating the world’s most powerful tidal turbine, the O2, which harnesses tidal currents to provide predictable, clean energy. Visit Orbital Marine Power Website
2. How much funding did Orbital Marine Power recently secure?
The company has secured £7 million in investment to advance its projects. Check out the tech funding announcement
3. Who are the key investors behind this funding round?
PXN Ventures and Scottish Enterprise are the principal investors supporting Orbital Marine Power's latest expansion efforts. Learn more about PXN Ventures
4. What are the primary uses for this funding?
The funding will be used to double turbine capacity at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney and expand their international commercial projects. Discover EMEC’s involvement
5. What makes Orbital’s technology different from other renewable energy sources?
Orbital’s floating turbines harness 24/7 predictable energy from tidal currents, unlike wind and solar which are weather-dependent. Explore their tidal technology innovations
6. What amount of energy do Orbital’s turbines currently generate?
Orbital’s O2 turbine generates 2 MW and can power up to 18,000 homes with further expansion planned. Learn about O2 turbine efficiency
7. How will the funding impact Scotland’s economy?
Approximately 70% of the £200 million spent on Orbital projects stays within the UK, supporting green jobs and local supply chains. Discover the economic impact
8. What government policies aid Orbital Marine Power’s growth?
The UK government supports Orbital through Contracts for Difference (CfDs), ensuring stable income for clean energy projects. Learn more about CfDs
9. Where is Orbital planning global expansion?
Orbital Marine Power recently secured licenses for tidal energy projects in Nova Scotia, Canada. Discover Nova Scotia’s tidal program
10. How can entrepreneurs learn from Orbital Marine Power’s success?
Entrepreneurs can emulate their focus on predictable energy outputs, strategic partnerships, and government incentives. Read business lessons from Orbital
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
