Projects for large gigawatt-class tidal power plants are currently being developed in the Russian Federation and elsewhere in the world. Such power plants are designed to operate in the energy system in conjunction with thermal and nuclear power plants. If there is no suburban power plant in the construction zone, it is planned to build complexes based on the use of periodic variable generation capacity, for example, for the production of hydrogen. At the same time, in the zones of intensive tidal water traffic, relatively small energy consumers are often located - fishing artels, meteorological and border posts, etc. This work considers the designs of incorporeal tidal hydroelectric power plants, since the dam is the most expensive construction of an tidal hydropower plants and its construction is economically unprofitable for individual use or for small settlements that consume electrical power of several tens of kilowatts. The principle of operation of incorporeal tidal hydropower plants is outlined. Conclusions are made about the advantages of using this type of installation in the power range from 10 to 100 kW.