Spiralis Energy has unveiled its simple and scalable ‘shell-like’ system, the Axial Skelter, on the island of Alderney.
The event marks the official launch of its Tides2Teacampaign, an initiative highlighting how sustainable tidal systems can transform communities and contribute to a more affordable, sustainable and predictable energy future.
Each Spiralis Energy Axial Skelter will produce enough energy in one day to brew over 250,000 cups of tea. By harnessing the UK’s tidal potential, Spiralis Energy will capture power from tidal currents and river flows to generate clean, reliable, and cost-effective electricity. Unlike other offshore technologies, the Axial Skelter has no sharp edges, no fast-moving parts, and it does not disturb the seabed. Through its trials, Spiralis Energy will prove it has no negative impact on the marine environment.
From 27th to 28th November, Spiralis Energy is showcasing to the local community of Alderney how the Axial Skelter works, with display boards and a Q&A session with its team. This will give residents an insight into how the island could potentially use tidal power as part of its energy mix, reducing the reliance on diesel fuelled power generation to introduce a more cost effective and sustainable source of power.
Spiralis Energy is asking the UK public to support its Tides2Tea campaign by purchasing a future cup of tea from the tide. The campaign aims to prove that tidal energy can be an affordable contributor to power generation in the UK. Those who participate in the campaign will have their name printed onto the inaugural Axial Skelter that will be deployed in Alderney waters in 2025.
Spiralis Energy will install cameras and sensors as part of the testing to monitor the ecology and wildlife, with the collected data being shared with the Alderney Wildlife Trust. At slack tide once a live feed is established, supporters of the campaign will have the opportunity to look for their name featured on Alderney’s inaugural skelter.
Unlike solar and wind power, which can be unpredictable due to weather conditions, tidal energy offers the unrivalled advantage of predictability. It can be forecast with pinpoint accuracy to within six minutes, 100 years ahead, ensuring a consistent and reliable energy source. This predictability, coupled with Spiralis Energy’s scalable and environmentally friendly technology, positions water-powered energy as a critical player in achieving the UK’s net zero energy goals by 2050.
The unique thing about Spiralis’ Axial Skelter is that it can be used in any flowing water of sufficient depth. This includes rivers, waves, and tides. Spiralis Energy plans to trial its Axial Skelter off the coast of Alderney, but longer-term it will be used for island communities, to feed power into national grid networks, and may even be used to power private applications such as data centres or hydrogen production.
Working with Alderney
The team at Spiralis Energy has stated its commitment to community engagement and will work closely with the local residents of Alderney, giving them opportunities to learn about the skelters and offer feedback. Over the past year, Spiralis Energy has been working alongside the States of Alderney, the Harbour Master, Alderney Wildlife Trust as well as the Office of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation in Guernsey to ensure the right permits and consents are in place for the trial. To kick start this process, Spiralis Energy’s CEO, Guy Levene will be in the Braye Harbour area from 27th-28th November to meet residents and answer any questions they may have.
Chief Executive of Spiralis Energy, Guy Levene OBE commented: “The Tides2Tea campaign is more than just an exciting showcase of our technology – it’s a call to action for a cleaner, more predictable energy future. The Alderney Race is the perfect stage to demonstrate the immense potential of tidal energy, a resource that is not only sustainable but entirely reliable. By inviting the public to join this journey, we’re showing how innovation, community, and action can come together to create a world where our greatest natural resource brings progress and opportunity. Alderney represents the future of what’s possible, and we’re proud to pioneer an energy transformation with the support of the island’s community – and all for the price of a cup of tea!”
George Illovy, Co-designer at Spiralis Energy commented: “Modelled on the natural elegance of the Turritella seashell, our Skelter is proof that innovation can be simple, effective, and deeply sustainable. The Tides2Tea campaign is a wonderful way to bring people into this journey—connecting a daily ritual like a cup of tea with the extraordinary potential of tidal power. Beyond delivering clean energy, this technology offers opportunities for job creation and apprenticeships, leveraging the existing skills of coastal and maritime industries. By starting here in Alderney, we’re not just showcasing tidal energy—we’re building the foundations of a circular, community-driven energy future.”
Bill Abel, States Member and Lead of the Marine Working Group commented: “The Alderney tidal resource is significant and projects in the past to harness our tides have not been successful. At last Alderney will be able to say that tidal power is something that is now tangible. We are encouraged that Spiralis has chosen our Island for the deployment of their demonstrator unit early next year and recognize its potential to produce power economically. The Island’s Policy and Finance Committee has confirmed its support for Spiralis’ initiative, and thank them. The Alderney team will provide as much support as we can and I am sure our community, after earlier false starts, will also be pushing for the success of the skelter and its potential for the future.”
