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Lots of different technology variants have been tested, and there has not been convergence on a predominant typology. Most have been horizontal-axis, like wind turbines, but with 2, 3, or more blades and either mounted on a seabed fixed foundation or on a floating platform. In addition, vertical-axis turbines and tidal kites are also being developed.
Historically, development has largely been focused around Europe, but devices have been built and tested in North America – including at the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE), Japan, and elsewhere. The [[European Marine Energy Centre]] (EMEC) was set up in [[Orkney]] in 2003, and developed a tidal test site in the [[Fall of Warness]], to the west of the island of [[Eday]]. The site opened in 2006, and EMEC was granted a license in 2016 to test up to 10 MW of tidal stream devices, and has since hosted the testing of many of these devices.<ref name=":21">{{Cite report |url=https://marine.gov.scot/sites/default/files/environmental_statement_1.pdf |title=EMEC Fall of Warness Tidal Test Site Section 36 Application Environmental Statement |last=The European Marine Energy Centre |date=December 2014}}</ref>
There have been various acquisitions of technology developers over the years. Many of the companies are no longer trading, or have ceased development of tidal-stream turbines. However, the first pre-commercial array demonstration projects have been operating since around 2016. Building on this, commercial arrays are expected to be operational by around 2027, at EMEC, [[Morlais]] and elsewhere.
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* The first tidal stream turbine test site was constructed in 2005 and opened in 2006, in the Fall of Wanress to the west of Eday, Orkney, part of the European Marine Energy Centre.<ref name=":21" />
* The significantly more powerful, 1.2 MW MCT [[SeaGen]] turbine was installed in [[Strangford Lough]], Northern Ireland, in May 2008 and grid connected in July.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 July 2020 |title=SeaGen Turbine, Northern Ireland, UK |url=https://www.power-technology.com/projects/strangford-lough/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=Power Technology |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Also in May 2008, OpenHydro was the first tidal turbine connected to the [[National Grid (Great Britain)|National Grid]] in Great Britain (GB). The 250 kW device was tested in the [[Fall of Warness]], [[Eday]], Orkney.<ref name=":19">{{Cite news |title=OpenHydro turbine connected to UK grid |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/openhydro-turbine-connected-to-uk-grid-1.1215519 |access-date=2023-12-21 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref>
* Verdant Power installed six 35 kW turbines in New York's [[East River]], supplying power to two local businesses, claimed as the world's first tidal array.<ref name="nytimes20120912" />
* In August 2016, Nova Innovation installed a second 100 kW turbine in the [[Bluemull Sound]], Shetland, connected to the GB Grid, also claimed as the world's first tidal array.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=World first for Shetlands in tidal power breakthrough |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/aug/29/world-first-for-shetlands-in-tidal-power-breakthrough |access-date=8 September 2016 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>
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