Ilaria Rosella Pagliaro A Canadian startup has invented a lightweight, compact generator that produces electricity by harnessing ocean motion, without fuel or blades
A small Canadian startup, founded in Dartmouth, has just raised $1.3 million to advance an idea as simple as it is ambitious: using ocean waves to produce clean energy. It’s called Voltai, and its device – an electrostatic generator with a compact, rounded shape – resembles a spinning top.
It’s lightweight, has no blades or pistons, and can be installed directly on ships or offshore platforms, without changing the hull’s shape or increasing water resistance. A true alternative to traditional marine installations, which are often expensive, bulky, and difficult to maintain.
How the spinning top-shaped generator works
Voltai’s generator has no moving mechanical parts. It works electrostatically, meaning it transforms the continuous movement of waves and marine vibrations into electricity. It’s designed to generate up to 100 watts, starting from a 25-watt prototype, and can be combined in modules to reach up to 1 kilowatt of power.
This makes the technology adaptable to different uses: from monitoring buoys in the middle of the ocean, to large cargo ships, to scientific research vessels, which often need reliable and continuous energy to power sensors, navigation instruments, and communication systems.
Compared to traditional systems, the advantage is clear: less bulk, no expensive maintenance, and simpler installation. There’s no need for heavy anchors or complex floating structures. The generator integrates into the host vessel without invasive modifications.
Less fuel, more renewables for navigation
The maritime sector is among the most difficult to make sustainable. Ships consume enormous amounts of fuel and are responsible for a significant portion of global CO₂ emissions. That’s why Voltai’s technology aims high: reducing the use of fossil fuels and helping the transition toward zero-emission navigation, a goal set for 2050.
Among the investors are Invest Nova Scotia, a public innovation agency, and Mahir Sahin, former consultant at Google X and now founder of Cloudberry Ventures.
According to Jen Fuccillo, principal at Invest Nova Scotia,
It’s one of the most promising technologies to make energy produced from the ocean truly accessible and affordable.
An important aspect is precisely the total absence of mechanical components subject to wear, which lowers operating costs and extends the system’s lifespan.
With the funds raised, Voltai now aims for more advanced testing and bringing the generator to market, with a next round of investments already in preparation, as explained by Maja Maher, CEO of Voltai:
We want to bring concrete innovation to a sector that urgently needs it, with the goal of making energy production from the ocean accessible, useful, and immediate.
Source: Voltai
