Turning a clean energy idea into a working ocean technology is harder than it sounds. Before new tidal turbines, wave energy devices, or marine sensors can be used to power homes or protect coastal waters, they must be tested in real ocean conditions with strong currents, waves, saltwater, and changing weather.
The Marine Renewable Energy Collaborative of New England (MRECo) is helping make that possible by developing and improving two ocean testing sites in Massachusetts: the Bourne Tidal Test Site (BTTS) in the Cape Cod Canal and the Cuttyhunk Test Range (CTR) off Cuttyhunk Island.
Together, these sites give innovators a safe, affordable, and permitted way to put new ocean technologies into the water bridging the gap between lab experiments and real-world use.
The Bourne Tidal Test Site, located in the Cape Cod Canal, is a sturdy platform built specifically for testing tidal energy devices and marine sensors in fast-moving water. The site allows engineers and researchers to see how their technology performs in strong tidal currents, while still being close to shore and easy to access. Because the site is already fully permitted, companies can focus on improving their technology instead of spending years navigating regulatory hurdles.
Planned upgrades to the Bourne site will allow for faster testing, real-time data sharing, and improved safety, which makes it even easier for new ideas to move forward.
Off the coast of Cuttyhunk Island, MRECo is also developing the Cuttyhunk Test Range, a location designed for testing floating devices and wave energy systems. This area experiences ocean waves similar to those found near offshore wind farms along Massachusetts’ South Coast. The site will include permanent moorings, power access, and monitoring equipment to help developers understand how their technologies perform in open-water conditions.
These efforts are part of a larger push to grow Massachusetts’ ocean technology economy through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s (MassCEC) Ocean Innovation Network, a statewide initiative that connects startups, researchers, and businesses with the facilities, mentorship, and resources they need to bring new clean energy solutions to market. By investing in shared testing infrastructure like BTTS and CTR, MassCEC and its partners are helping ensure that promising ideas don’t stall in the lab, and that Massachusetts remains a national leader in ocean-based climate and energy innovation.
“These test sites are about helping good ideas succeed,” said John Miller, Executive Director of MRECo. “Many promising ocean technologies never make it past the drawing board because testing in the ocean is expensive and complicated. We’re removing those barriers so innovators can safely test, learn, and improve.”
MRECo is the only organization in Massachusetts focused on developing open-water test sites for tidal and wave energy and marine sensors. With decades of combined experience in ocean engineering and testing, MRECo works with startups, universities, and established companies to help new technologies reach the water faster and more affordably.
By supporting hands-on testing and innovation, the Bourne and Cuttyhunk sites are expected to attract companies from across the U.S. and beyond, create local economic opportunities, and strengthen Massachusetts’ leadership in clean energy and ocean technology.
To learn more about the Bourne Tidal Test Site, the Cuttyhunk Test Range, or how MRECo helps bring ocean technology to life, visit www.mreconewengland.org.