What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the techno-economic feasibility and cost trajectory of a novel shallow-water, bridge-supported marine current turbine system for small island grids.

September 17, 2026Journal of Marine Science and EngineeringOpen Access

Techno-Economic Analysis of Axial-Flow Current Turbines Applied to the US Virgin Islands

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Authors

JAJonisha AubainUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst EBErin Baker

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Overview

Techno-economic modeling demonstrates cost parity of bridge-supported marine current turbines at ten megawatts in island systems, suggesting viable renewable transition pathways for isolated grids.

Key Points

To evaluate the techno-economic feasibility and cost trajectory of a novel shallow-water, bridge-supported marine current turbine system for small island grids.
Adapted the National Renewable Energy Laboratory Reference Model 4 technical design and cost framework using economies-of-scale relationships for a bridge-mounted system.
Calculated the levelized cost of energy across varied array scales and conducted sensitivity analyses on current velocity correction factors, turbine dimensions, and interest rates.
A three-unit installation yields an estimated levelized cost of energy of $1.13/kWh, which decreases to $0.31/kWh when deployed at a 100-unit scale.
The bridge-supported marine turbine system becomes economically competitive with the U.S. Virgin Islands baseline electricity tariff of $0.42/kWh at an installed capacity of roughly 10 MW.

Cite This Study

Aubain et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aabb5fd5f706d05830e47a3 https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14181723

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September 17, 2026Journal of Marine Science and EngineeringOpen Access

Techno-Economic Analysis of Axial-Flow Current Turbines Applied to the US Virgin Islands

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

JAJonisha AubainUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst EBErin Baker

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Techno-economic modeling demonstrates cost parity of bridge-supported marine current turbines at ten megawatts in island systems, suggesting viable renewable transition pathways for isolated grids.

Key Points

To evaluate the techno-economic feasibility and cost trajectory of a novel shallow-water, bridge-supported marine current turbine system for small island grids.
Adapted the National Renewable Energy Laboratory Reference Model 4 technical design and cost framework using economies-of-scale relationships for a bridge-mounted system.
Calculated the levelized cost of energy across varied array scales and conducted sensitivity analyses on current velocity correction factors, turbine dimensions, and interest rates.
A three-unit installation yields an estimated levelized cost of energy of $1.13/kWh, which decreases to $0.31/kWh when deployed at a 100-unit scale.
The bridge-supported marine turbine system becomes economically competitive with the U.S. Virgin Islands baseline electricity tariff of $0.42/kWh at an installed capacity of roughly 10 MW.

Cite This Study

Aubain et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aabb5fd5f706d05830e47a3 https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14181723

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