Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund alongside OION angel investors has invested in Caudal Energy, the Oxford University spinout accelerating the commercialisation of its breakthrough tidal energy technology.
Caudal Energy, formerly known as Porpoise Power, is developing a new generation of tidal energy systems inspired by the efficient movement of marine mammal tails. The company’s proprietary oscillating foil technology offers a simpler, lower-cost alternative to conventional underwater turbines, enabling predictable renewable energy generation across a much wider range of tidal locations.
The investment forms part of Caudal Energy’s £4.3 million seed funding round, which will enable the company to undertake full-scale sea trials, advance its technology from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 to TRL 7, and accelerate commercial partnerships ahead of its first planned commercial deployment in 2028.
Founded as an Oxford University spinout in 2024, Caudal Energy is addressing one of renewable energy’s biggest challenges, delivering reliable, predictable baseload power to complement intermittent sources such as wind and solar. Unlike traditional tidal turbines, Caudal Energy’s modular fin-based system is designed to operate efficiently in slower tidal flows, significantly increasing the number of commercially viable deployment sites while reducing installation and maintenance complexity.
John Kennedy, CEO of Caudal Energy, said: “This investment from Oxford Innovation Finance will assit us in validating our technology at full scale, demonstrating that predictable tidal energy can be generated cost-effectively in a much wider range of locations than previously possible, and move us closer to bringing reliable, renewable baseload power to market. Their experience in supporting ambitious deep technology businesses, together with the expertise of their angel investor community, will be invaluable as we continue to scale.”
Richard Cooper, Managing Director at Oxford Innovation Finance, said: “Caudal Energy is tackling one of the most important challenges in the transition to a net zero economy, delivering renewable energy that is not only clean, but predictable and commercially scalable. The team has combined world-class academic research with a highly experienced commercial leadership team to develop a truly differentiated approach to tidal energy. We look forward to supporting them as they progress towards commercial deployment.”
Oxford Innovation Finance backs ambitious, IP-rich businesses solving global challenges through innovative technologies. We provide entrepreneurs with access to both institutional capital and an experienced network of angel investors capable of supporting businesses through critical stages of growth. This investment in Caudal Energy further strengthens our growing portfolio of businesses developing transformative technologies to address global challenges across climate, healthcare and advanced engineering.