Achelous Energy

What Achelous Energy does

Achelous Energy Limited is a privately held UK engineering company founded in 2017 and headquartered in Edenbridge, Kent, that develops hydrokinetic power generation technology for rivers and ocean tides. Its core offering is the patented HKS (Hydrokinetic + Solar) floating platform, which uses Vertical Axis Turbine (VAT) technology — with all electrical components kept above water — to capture energy from flowing water while supplementing output with solar panels. The product line is split between HKS.r, a river platform rated from 10kW to 500kW for modular deployment, and HKS.t, a 1MW floating tidal platform targeting utility-scale arrays for grid and large commercial offtake, with detailed design targeted for 2025.

The company operates a project-based, direct-sales go-to-market across two primary use cases: utility-scale power for national grids and large commercial off-takers, and access-to-energy installations for off-grid and remote communities. Customers and partners span governments and NGOs in Nepal, Cambodia, Myanmar, Zambia, Brazil and the UK, supported by Innovate UK Energy Catalyst grants, UK FCDO engagement, and the UK Contracts for Difference scheme. Revenue mechanics combine hardware sales of HKS platforms with associated mini-grid infrastructure and, prospectively, green hydrogen and green ammonia production using HKS-supplied electricity; no public pricing or recurring revenue model is disclosed, and the firm remains at pre-commercial scale with 1-10 employees.

Name

Achelous Energy

Legal name

Achelous Energy Limited

Website

https://achelous.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Achelous Energy is a UK-based hydrokinetic and solar power technology developer that designs patented floating HKS platforms with vertical axis turbines to deliver baseload renewable electricity to off-grid communities, commercial off-takers, and national grids.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hydrokinetic Power Equipment

NAICS

Turbine and Turbine Generator Set Units Manufacturing (333611), Electric Power Generation (22111), Hydroelectric Power Generation (221111)

SIC

Engines & Turbines (3510), Motors & Generators (3621)

akta.pro primary industry

Turbines, Generators & Hydromechanical Equipment Manufacturing (OEMs) (EUACAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tidal Stream Power Generation (In-Stream Turbines) (EUACAJAB), Marine & Hydrokinetic R&D (Tidal, Wave, River Current, OTEC) (EUAMAOAD)

Keywords

• Hydrokinetic power systems
• Tidal energy generation
• River power platforms
• Green hydrogen production
• Off-grid electrification

Headquarters

HQ city

Edenbridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Hydrokinetic Power Systems Sales: Sale and deployment of HKS power generation platforms including HKS.r river systems (10kW-500kW) and HKS.t tidal systems (up to 1MW). Revenue generated from system sales, installation, and project development.
2. Technology Licensing and Sale-of-Technology: Sale of technology to commercial clients including the planned sale-of-technology arrangement with commercial client in Zambia's Copperbelt region for deployment at Lake View Farm.
3. Green Fuels Production: HKS technology used to power green hydrogen production through electrolysis of river water, which can be converted to green ammonia. Revenue potential from ammonia production partnerships with companies like Petrobras.
4. Mini-grid Infrastructure: Delivery of complete mini-grid electrical systems alongside HKS platforms to bring renewable power to off-grid communities, including dedicated transmission and distribution cabling.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Achelous Energy designs, manufactures and deploys patented floating hydrokinetic + solar (HKS) power platforms that generate 24/7 carbon-free electricity from rivers and ocean tides. The HKS.r river platform (10kW–500kW) and HKS.t tidal platform (up to 1MW) use Vertical Axis Turbines with above-water electrical components, sold via direct project-based engagements with national grids, large commercial off-takers, governments, NGOs, and agricultural operators.

Product overview

Achelous Energy offers a portfolio of hydrokinetic and solar power generation products centered on its patented HKS (Hydrokinetic Solar) technology platform. The core offerings comprise two distinct product lines: HKS.r for river applications (10kW-500kW) and HKS.t for tidal applications (up to 1MW), both built around Vertical Axis Turbine technology. These platforms generate carbon-free electricity from flowing water, supplemented by solar panels contributing approximately 10% of electrical output. Additional value-added offerings include green hydrogen production (via water electrolysis) and green ammonia production, which combine HKS-generated electricity with chemical processes to create zero-carbon fuels for agricultural and transportation applications. The company also delivers mini-grid infrastructure solutions for off-grid community electrification projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HKS.r: Hydrokinetic Solar technology for rivers - floating platform supporting submerged water turbines with solar generation, designed for outputs of 10kW to 500kW.
• HKS.t

Products and services

• HKS.r (Hydrokinetic Solar for Rivers) Floating hydrokinetic and solar power platform for river applications with outputs from 10kW to 500kW. Modular construction enables in-country assembly and transport to remote locations; turbines energise in flows as low as 1 m/s in 3.5 m water depth. Sold to off-grid communities, commercial farms, mining operations, and other large commercial off-takers.
• HKS.t (Hydrokinetic Solar for Tides)

Quantifiable outcome

• No dams required - eliminates environmental impact on river geologies and marine ecosystems
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UK Government (Contracts for Difference Scheme)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024UK government initiative providing financial stability and reducing investment risk for low-carbon energy projects. Over 100MW of tidal CfDs issued since 2012, with over 28MW awarded in AR6 (September 2024). Since 2021, the scheme has ring-fenced project values within each Allocation Round for tidal energy projects.
• UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UK FCDO in Cambodia, aligning with the UK's wider business engagement with Cambodia. FCDO supports development of clean energy access projects in developing countries.
• Brazilian Energy Companies and UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAEL has secured key project partners for green ammonia project application including Brazil's leading hydrogen electrolyser company and one of Rio de Janeiro's most prestigious universities. Partnership formed for HKS.r-based green ammonia production pilot project.
• Myanmar Project PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExcellent in-country links to project partners in Myanmar enabled completion of HKS.r demonstrator construction and float-out on-schedule in December 2021 despite COVID-19 pandemic.
• Zambia In-Country PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with in-country partners in Zambia to define pathway for HKS.r technology deployment. Partners include commercial farming operations in the Copperbelt region.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Simec Atlantis Energy: UK-listed tidal stream developer behind the MeyGen project in Scotland. Direct peer to Achelous's HKS.t ambitions, competing for the same UK CfD ring-fenced tidal capacity and targeting grid-scale marine hydrokinetic power.
• Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC): US-based developer of hydrokinetic and tidal energy systems using cross-flow turbine technology. Closely comparable to Achelous as a small, technology-focused hydrokinetic OEM pursuing both utility-scale and remote community off-takers.
• Minesto: Swedish tidal/kite developer using a subsea tethered 'dragon kite' to generate electricity from low-velocity tidal and ocean currents. Comparable as a small-cap, technology-led hydrokinetic player targeting utility-scale marine renewables.
• HydroQuest: France-based hydrokinetic turbine developer building floating river and tidal platforms for off-grid and grid-connected use. Directly comparable product offering and customer segments to Achelous's HKS.r and HKS.t lines.
• Verdant Power: US-based tidal kinetic energy company operating TriFrame™ tidal turbines in the East River, New York. Comparable to Achelous as a hydrokinetic OEM focused on commercial pilots with utility and off-grid customers.

Broad incumbents

• Andritz Hydro: Global incumbent hydro turbine and electromechanical equipment OEM with utility-scale hydropower installations worldwide. Comparable as a competing supplier of turbine-generator packages in the broader hydroelectric space Achelous targets.
• Voith Hydro: Large German hydro turbine manufacturer serving utility and pumped-storage markets globally. Broad incumbent comparable to Achelous in the wider hydropower equipment category, but at much larger scale and with conventional dam-based technology.

Emerging players

• NEMOS GmbH: German tidal energy start-up developing floating tidal energy converters. Comparable emerging player with overlapping marine hydrokinetic technology and similar stage of commercialisation to Achelous's HKS.t platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/achelous-energy-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/achelousenergy/?hl=en-gb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Achelous Energy