NEWCASTLE, 2nd OCT, 2025 – Members of the Royal Family were among 250,000 visitors at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan last week, where pioneering energy software developed in the North East was showcased to the world.
Kinewell Energy has put the UK in the global spotlight after showcasing its offshore wind innovation at the World Expo, an event that draws a quarter of a million visitors every day to see the world’s most ground-breaking innovations.
The Newcastle-based firm was invited by the Department for Business and Trade to take part in the Come Power the Future showcase, where its interactive game EduKLOC was even trialled by Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. The game, sponsored by global engineering giant, RS Group, proved one of the star attractions in the UK Pavilion.
During a four-day showcase, more than 3,500 people aged three to 85 played EduKLOC, sparking conversations about renewable energy across generations, cultures and abilities. Its accessibility meant it was enjoyed by everyone from schoolchildren and families to engineers and senior industry leaders, including visitors with disabilities and those who did not speak English.
EduKLOC is based on Kinewell’s award-winning inter-array cable layout optimisation software, KLOC, which is used worldwide by industry giants including SSE Renewables, Equinor, Parkwind, and Xodus. KLOC was developed with funding from the North East Combined Authority’s (NECA) TIGGOR programme delivered by ORE Catapult.
While the commercial version helps reduce costs and accelerates projects, EduKLOC makes those same concepts engaging for the public. By gamifying offshore wind design, it brings maths and business principles to life, from Pythagoras’ theorem to cost optimisation and decision-making.
EduKLOC has been used in STEM outreach projects across the North East, as well as internationally, inspiring young people to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and maths. Following the Expo, the tool will also be available for schools and communities to experience first-hand at Blyth’s new £15m Energy Central Hub Visitors Centre.
On average, Kinewell’s commercial tool KLOC, which underpins EduKLOC, would have saved 35% of cable system cost relative to the designs submitted by the public. KLOC typically saves around 20% of cable system cost relative to designs created by experienced industry engineers. The total time taken by the public to develop their cable layouts was the equivalent of more than 7 week’s worth of continuous non-stop gameplay.
In contrast, Kinewell’s commercial tool KLOC, typically returns results in a few minutes, giving monumental productivity gains to its engineers through automation. This demonstrates the very real cost and time savings the Northeast company is already helping deliver for offshore wind projects worldwide.
Delivering the offshore wind deployment ambitions of governments around the world is dependent on growing the workforce and future generations embracing technical careers. Kinewell believes gamification has an important role to play in inspiring the next generation of engineers and innovators.
Dr Andrew Jenkins, CEO and Founder of Kinewell, said: “We are proud to have represented the North East and the UK at the World Expo. Seeing schoolchildren, families and even the Royal Family engage with EduKLOC shows that offshore wind can capture imaginations when presented in the right way.
“Our region has a vital role to play in delivering the clean energy transition, and tools like EduKLOC are helping to inspire talent while highlighting the impact that North East innovation is already having globally.”
Earlier this year, Kinewell received the King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade, cementing its reputation as a North East business with global impact.
A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade said: “Our Come Power The Future Showcase at Expo 2025 highlights how innovation and collaboration can inspire a cleaner energy future. Kinewell has been an outstanding example of UK expertise in offshore wind, delivering technology that makes a difference both commercially and educationally. We are delighted to have them part of the UK Pavilion.”
For more information on Kinewell, visit: https://kinewell.co.uk/
