From Snorkelling Idea to Global Exit: NRG Marine, Innovation and the Alfa Laval Acquisition

In This Episode Our host, Stuart Broadley, speaks with Darren Rowlands, CEO of NRG Marine, for an inspiring Survive & Thrive story about turning a chance holiday discovery into an award-winning global clean technology business.Founded after spotting heavy biofouling on yachts during a family sailing trip, NRG Marine developed an ultrasonic anti-fouling solution that prevents marine growth without harmful chemicals. Over seventeen years, the Coventry-headquartered company expanded from recreational boating into commercial shipping, oil and gas, refineries and industrial applications — investing heavily in R&D, securing ATEX certification, and building a fast-growing international customer base.In this episode, Darren shares how the company scaled into new verticals, delivered significant maintenance and efficiency savings for clients, won Energy Marine Company of the Year 2024, and ultimately achieved a strategic acquisition by Alfa Laval. It’s a candid conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience, pivoting markets, backing talent, and knowing when the time is right to hand over the baton.What Is the EIC? What Are the World Energy Supply Chain Awards?The Energy Industries Council (EIC) is one of the world’s largest energy trade associations. As a not-for-profit organisation, it supports more than 950 member companies involved in the global energy value chain. EIC operates internationally, with offices in London, Kuala Lumpur, Rio de Janeiro, Houston, Dubai, and soon, Berlin.It is energy agnostic, supporting all parts of the energy sector. From mature renewable onshore and offshore sectors like wind, solar and hydropower; to grid infrastructure and large nuclear; to hydrocarbon sectors like oil & gas, LNG, FPSO, decommissioning, upstream, midstream and downstream; to emerging low-carbon sectors like hydrogen, carbon capture, CCUS, energy storage, BESS, biofuels, SAF (sustainable aviation fuels), and geothermal.EIC provides a wide range of services, including access to global market intelligence, CAPEX and OPEX project data, consulting support, events, business development opportunities, and advocacy. It also facilitates connections with key decision-makers and policymakers in the energy sector worldwide.The organisation is behind the World Energy Supply Chain Awards (WESCA), which celebrates excellence and innovation across the energy supply chain. EIC also publishes the annual Survive & Thrive Insight Report, which explores the strategies member companies are using to grow in an increasingly complex and competitive global energy landscape.EIC’s members bring exceptional capability across engineering, manufacturing, services, technology, innovation, digital solutions, and asset management. Collectively, they represent the future of the energy industry, driving the net zero agenda, enabling the energy transition, and advancing sustainability and a just transition.Stay Connected with EIC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about the EIC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore EIC membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read the Survive & Thrive reports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about the Five Golden Rules for a Healthy Energy Supply Chain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn about EIC Consult⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact Stuart Broadley about doing your own C-level EIC podcast at [email protected]