First Tidal Turbine Deployed at Bourne Tidal Test Site

The Bourne Tidal Test Site (BTTS) welcomed its first test turbine after the COVID shutdown.

The first turbine deployed at the BTTS was a conceptual design provided by Littoral Power Systems, Inc. of New Bedford. Two additional turbines were scheduled to be installed in 2020, but both were cancelled due to COVID 19 logistics. MRECo continues to receive inquiries from turbine developers in the US and from foreign entities because the BTTS offers a stable platform with near laboratory conditions in ocean water. 

The Bourne Tidal Test Site is the only permanent test stand designed specifically for tidal devices in the world. This is a partial scale (10-foot diameter vs. 40-foot diameter full scale turbines) test site that allows a transition from testing in university tanks to full scale avoiding some of the failures that have happened with deploying larger prototype turbines too quickly. It is also more cost-effective costing as little as $30,000 for a test versus several million at full scale sites.  The BTTS offers testing at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5/6, partial scale in relevant conditions, at a secure and easily accessible site.

Tidal Turbine on Lifting Arm at BTTS

This partial scale site was financed by the Massachusetts Seaport Economic Council and will cost less than 1% of what the full-scale sites cost. This is a very good value for positioning Massachusetts as a go-to place for the emerging tidal energy industry, which is part of the Blue Economy.

The next step is for MRECo to qualify for the TEAMER (Testing and Expertise for Marine Energy) program which coordinates testing sites and facilities for ocean energy devices.