The pilot project at the Marine Renewable Energy Collaborative’s Bourne Tidal Test Site represents a shift in strategy. Unlike massive, seabed-fixed prototypes that historically dominated the sector, Sitkana’s smaller, modular units prioritize ease of installation and maintenance. By testing in waters reaching four knots, founder and CEO Lance McMullan aims to prove the technology’s viability for remote coastal communities and eventual commercial scaling.
Small-Scale Tidal Turbines Challenge U.S. Energy Landscape
In the fast-moving currents off Cape Cod, an Alaska-based startup is testing a modular turbine designed to finally unlock the massive potential of American tidal energy. While the National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates marine resources could meet 57 percent of national electricity demand, the U.S. currently hosts zero commercial tidal plants.
Support for these efforts comes from the Department of Energy as the U.S. attempts to close the research gap with Europe. Beyond the Cape Cod site, innovation is diversifying across the country: the University of Michigan is trialing mini-prototypes in the Great Lakes, while a Menlo Park institute is developing underwater kites for off-grid coastal use. If successfully deployed, these technologies could mirror the impact projected for Europe, where ocean energy is estimated to have the capacity to supply 21 percent of the European Union’s total energy consumption.
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