Page Loading

Verlume’s sustainable subsea power system solutions go global

Verlume is a world leader in subsea power systems with a unique offering of patented, intelligent energy management and storage technologies. Find out how we’ve supported it to develop the only subsea technologies on the market that can stabilise electrical power systems.  

6 February 2025 | 6 minute read

Aberdeen-based Verlume was established in 2013 by Richard Knox with the support of some of his subsea industry contacts and colleagues.

The company was founded with the purpose of developing a subsea power generation system to decarbonize subsea power delivery. Through the course of this and subsequent development projects, the team uncovered technology gaps in the energy storage and management market.

These translated into opportunities for the company to create world-first subsea power solutions for the subsea industry.

Over the following decade, and with our support, Verlume did just that. Now, it’s a market leader with a suite of energy management technologies across the subsea ecosystem. 

Solving a key challenge for renewable energy 

While renewable energy sources like tidal, wave, and wind are abundant – particularly off Scotland’s blustery coasts – they all present the same challenge. How can they be stabilized?

On days with calm waters and no wind, how do you maintain power? And on days where gales are blowing and waves are crashing, how do you store surplus energy?

When Verlume was first developing solutions for this, the available battery storage technology was unfit for purpose, having been primarily designed for use within electric vehicles.

It was then that the company realised there was a critical piece of the renewable energy power system puzzle that simply didn’t exist – yet.

In 2017, the company refocused its efforts on creating a solution for storing and managing intermittent power supplies. This technology had industry-wide applications but was particularly suited to the irregular nature of renewable energy sources.

Verlume’s revolutionary products

Verlume’s founding team came from a background in subsea for the oil and gas industry. They also had skills from a range of disciplines across the full breadth of engineering. This combination would enable Verlume to create its groundbreaking products.

Axonn

The first of these was Axonn, Verlume’s patented intelligent energy management system. Axonn provides real-time insights into subsea power systems, such as battery status and environmental conditions.

The product is a modular suite of firmware, software, and hardware that can add intelligence to power systems across the energy sector.

Axonn is present throughout all Verlume’s energy storage technologies, including Halo. 

Halo

Halo is essentially a smart battery system, designed to enable reliable power delivery in demanding underwater environments.

It uses Axonn’s intelligent energy management technology and its lithium-ion battery configuration to deliver uninterrupted power when combined with renewable power sources. 

Charge

This led to the development of Charge, Verlume’s rechargeable subsea battery packs.

Charge can be used as a means of significantly reducing dependency on higher-emission power delivery methods.

Easy to use and with a lower carbon footprint, it can be deployed quickly with rapid results to solve short-term power delivery challenges.

Orah

Orah, the largest capacity of Verlume’s systems, was developed for shallow water applications, such as offshore wind.

It has a modular and highly scalable design that will lead to a more balanced power output and help prevent grid curtailment.

As a winner of the RWE innovation competition in 2022, Verlume has been working to deliver this unique offering for system integration at OranjeWind.

How we've supported Verlume 

We saw the potential for Verlume’s solutions early on, initially providing a Smart Feasibility Grant to develop its original marine energy system.

After a second successful feasibility study, we awarded the company a large research and development grant of £1.2 million. It used this to build and test the first full scale integrated energy storage management system with tidal turbines.

To date, we’ve invested £5.4 million in Verlume, all of which has enabled it to further develop its groundbreaking products.

For founder and CEO Richard Knox, though, it’s about much more than the money.

“Without Scottish Enterprise, our company wouldn't have existed from day one. They’ve helped and supported us to grow our business and become successful,” says Richard.

As well as funding, Verlume has benefitted from our talented account managers, who have further opened access to a broad range of our services from strategy building to exploring international markets.

We also introduced the company to the GlobalScot network. This is a network of people around the world with a connection to Scotland that can provide support and contacts.

“Global Scots have helped us a number of times – made introductions, created connections, and helped support our strategy around entering new markets, particularly the US,” Richard says. 

Growth from the word go

Verlume has had big ambitions from day one. Its world-leading subsea power technologies quickly garnered the attention of major players in the energy industry

As soon as Halo was in production, Verlume secured its first commercial order from the USA. This was before the testing process had even concluded, such was the excitement about the technology.  

The company gained multiple investors, including Orchard Ventures, Par Equity, and the Scottish National Investment Bank. This helped Verlume to continue to build its broad multi-disciplinary team, further develop technology, and boost its expansion plans.

Verlume now has clients in the UK, Europe and United States, and is currently pursuing further funding rounds to continue scaling globally, with a focus on the United States and Australia. 

Up next: offshore wind and leading the way

As 2025 begins, Verlume’s ambition is showing no signs of slowing down.

Verlume’s largest current contract is with a Dutch offshore wind developer who’s looking to solve the issue of stabilizing offshore wind power. Fortunately, Verlume knows a thing or two about stabilizing intermittent power sources. 

The project is progressing well, with Verlume’s Orah technology due to be installed when the windfarm is constructed in 2026. This will stand the company in good stead for growth – offshore wind is a massive growth market, and Verlume wants to be a key player in its future.  

As for Verlume’s future, it’s got big plans. Richard’s set the company’s sights on being a first-tier offshore energy management company, leading the way in subsea power systems across the world’s harshest offshore environments.

And along the way, he wants to ensure Scotland’s expertise and capabilities in energy are recognised across the world:

“We want to make sure the country’s contribution to this industry doesn’t get lost. There's an inherent entrepreneurial spirit and a huge amount of expertise, particularly in Aberdeen and the north east of Scotland.”

Looking for new opportunities?

We can help your business take advantage of opportunities in Scotland's energy transition industry.

Find out how