Yes, things are invented and then bought out and shelved. Like the electric light bulb, we Had RU bulbs at sea, Rough Use, which were used in clusters when working cargo at night, but never saw ashore. They lasted better than ordinary bulbs but were not quite so bright.
As regards tidal power, not very good on its own, as needs a battery to keep going during slack tide neaps.
Have even used the tide to start an old Gardiner diesel, engine in nutreul, propellor starts turning, all valve lifter off, propellor shaft starts turning, drop one valve lifter and put in gear and away d=she goes.