Caudal Energy, a baseload energy company developing a new class of predictable renewable power systems, has raised £4.3 million in funding led by Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE) and Empirical Ventures, with participation from others including existing investors Zero Carbon Capital and Creator Fund.

The investment will support the next phase of development and full-scale testing of Caudal Energy’s breakthrough fin-based tidal technology at Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland. First commercial deployment is targeted for 2028.

The Caudal Generator is designed to deliver predictable, reliable and scalable renewable power from a significantly broader range of tidal sites than traditional systems, at costs competitive with established technologies such as offshore wind. At a system level, tidal energy enhances energy security and significantly reduces grid system costs by providing a consistent source of baseload energy.

John Kennedy, CEO of Caudal Energy, said: “The future energy system needs renewable power that is not only clean, but dependable and built to scale. We founded Caudal to challenge the assumption that tidal energy has to remain complex, costly and niche.”

Andy Straiton, Investment Lead at Oxford Science Enterprises, commented: “The combination of simpler deployment, lower operational complexity and access to a far broader range of viable sites can make tidal energy cost competitive with established renewables such as solar and wind.”

Johnathan Matlock, General Partner at Empirical Ventures added: “As energy systems evolve, solutions that combine predictability, operational practicality and cost competitiveness will become increasingly valuable.”