---
title: "Small Modular Turbines Test US Tidal Energy Potential"
publisher: "Stockmark.IT"
author: "Stockmark.IT Website"
published: "2026-08-03T07:38:42+00:00"
modified: "2026-08-03T07:38:42+00:00"
date: 2026-08-03
canonical: "https://stockmark.it/tidal-energy-could-cover-57-of-us-electricity-demand-nrel-study-finds/"
category: "Companies"
categories: ["Companies", "Energy", "US"]
image: "https://i0.wp.com/stockmark.it/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/small-modular-turbines-test-us-tidal-energy-potential.png?fit=1536%2C1024&quality=80&ssl=1"
format: "news"
language: "en-GB"
---

# Small Modular Turbines Test US Tidal Energy Potential

**Published:** August 3, 2026
**Author:** Stockmark.IT Website
**Categories:** Companies, Energy, US
**Featured image:** ![Small Modular Turbines Test US Tidal Energy Potential](https://i0.wp.com/stockmark.it/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/small-modular-turbines-test-us-tidal-energy-potential.png?fit=1536%2C1024&quality=80&ssl=1)

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An Alaska-based company is currently testing a new type of small, modular turbine within the waters off Massachusetts. The objective of this pilot project is to harness the United States’ vast and largely untapped potential for tidal power. Located in Cape Cod, the device operates amidst strong tidal currents designed to evaluate its performance and durability under real-world conditions. This trial aims to determine if the technology can be suitable for commercial scaling across the nation.

According to a 2021 study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, marine sources possess an energy potential of approximately 2,300 terawatt hours per year in the United States. This figure represents roughly 57 percent of the country’s total electricity output recorded in 2019. The report concluded that even capturing a small portion of this technical resource would make significant contributions to national energy needs. Despite such immense potential, there are currently no commercially operating tidal power plants within the nation.

The model being tested at the Marine Renewable Energy Collaborative’s Bourne Tidal Test Site differs significantly from most existing prototypes. While typical models are large structures affixed directly to the sea floor, this new design is smaller and modular. This configuration could facilitate simpler installation, scaling, and maintenance for potential commercial applications, even in remote coastal communities. The testing site itself serves a small-scale, exploratory purpose but aims to generate valuable data for future research and design.

Lance McMullan, founder and CEO of Sitkana, stated that the goal is to make marine energy easier to build, deploy, and maintain in remote areas. He described the current testing as critical as the industry moves toward commercial deployments. The location chosen for this experiment offers ideal conditions due to water speeds reaching up to four knots. These strong currents allow engineers to push the system to its limits while gathering essential insights into module design.

Beyond measuring power performance, operators will observe operation within a real marine environment. This allows for a better understanding of interactions with local wildlife. The potential application and impact of this technology extends far beyond United States borders. While the US and Canada boast high surveyed levels of wave energy potential, fully exploiting ocean energy could provide a significant amount of global needs.

A new report from Ocean Energy Europe concluded that ocean energy has the capacity to supply 21 percent of the European Union’s current energy consumption and approximately 13 percent of global electricity demand. This represents a possible game-changer for Europe as it struggles with establishing energy independence and reducing reliance on fossil fuel imports against a backdrop of ongoing energy crises.

Europe currently leads in spending regarding tidal energy research, but the United States is quickly catching up thanks to substantial funding programs from the Department of Energy. The experiment at Bourne Tidal Test Site represents just one of many cutting-edge tidal technologies being explored in US waters. In the Great Lakes, researchers have set up mini-prototype devices that could eventually provide electricity to islanders in the region.

On the West Coast, a research institute based in Menlo Park is testing underwater kites capable of generating tidal energy for off-grid coastal communities. These diverse initiatives highlight a growing commitment across different regions and nations to develop marine renewable resources as part of broader decarbonization efforts.

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**Original URL:** https://stockmark.it/tidal-energy-could-cover-57-of-us-electricity-demand-nrel-study-finds/
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