The scale of the ocean economy is no longer theoretical. Globally, it is projected to exceed $3 trillion by the end of this decade. The technical potential of marine energy could supply the equivalent of roughly 56% of current U.S. power generation. Those figures underscore why marine energy is increasingly viewed as a serious component of the clean energy transition rather than  niche technology.

Marine energy’s value proposition begins with predictability. Unlike many renewable resources, tidal energy can be forecasted years — even decades — in advance. Grid operators know exactly when energy will be produced, creating a level of certainty that complements wind and solar generation, which vary seasonally and daily. With sufficient development, marine energy could function as reliable baseload power while strengthening grid resilience during periods when other sources of generation underperform.

The resource opportunity is substantial. At 2026 IPF, panelists in the Ocean Economy 101 session discussed how the U.S. has an estimated 2,300 terawatt-hours per year of technically recoverable marine energy across all 50 states. Tidal resources, in particular, are geographically concentrated in high‑flow areas such as Cook Inlet in Alaska and New York’s Long Island Sound. That concentration enables targeted deployment strategies ranging from community‑scale systems to utility‑scale generation, tailored to local needs.

However, technology readiness varies across the sector. Tidal energy is the most mature, with increasing convergence around certain designs and mounting real‑world operating experience. Wave energy is earlier in its development, still exploring a wide range of engineering approaches without full standardization. Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) is technically feasible but isn’t ready for commercialization yet.  Across all technologies, the next phase will require multi‑year pilot projects, operating hours, and verified performance data that investors and regulators can rely on.

Supporting energy infrastructure is critical. Grid-connected, open‑ocean test facilities help reduce permitting risk, validate performance, and accelerate commercialization. These facilities also provide cross‑industry value, supporting autonomous underwater vehicles, environmental monitoring, critical minerals research, and even national security applications for the marine environment.

The path forward is demanding. Marine energy will require sustained investment, long‑duration testing, and collaboration across public and private sectors. The opportunity is vast—but realizing it depends on turning resource potential into operating assets backed by real data.

This is part of a 2026 IPF recap series, read more at www.oceantic.org.

At a moment when headlines about grid stress, extreme weather, and rising electricity demand are becoming more frequent, this year’s conference session featuring Hillary Bright of Turn Forward in conversation with energy analyst Oliver Stover of Charles River Associates could not have been timelier. Their discussion at Oceantic’s 2026 IPF unpacked the rapidly changing dynamics of America’s electrical grid—and the increasingly pivotal role that offshore wind can play in meeting the country’s growing energy needs. 

The Grid Is Under Pressure—and Changing Fast 

Turn Forward’s Executive Director opened with a question many are asking: What’s driving today’s new grid realities? And Oliver Stover began by putting rising demand in a historical context. After decades of relatively flat growth, electricity demand is now climbing sharply—driven by the rapid expansion of data centers, electrification across homes and industries, and winter peak loads becoming more common as heating systems transition to electric. 

Grid planners, Oliver noted, are increasingly vocal about resource adequacy concerns. In simple terms: Will we have enough energy, at the right moments, to meet demand? This challenge is becoming more complex amid both rising consumption and more frequent extreme weather events. 

Where Offshore Wind Fits In: Performance Matters 

Another key question is how offshore wind fits into this evolving landscape. Oliver acknowledged the elephant in the room: the recent winter storms that swept across much of the country. Those storms highlighted vulnerabilities in certain traditional generation sources, especially natural gas, which face supply constraints and operational wear‑and‑tear during deep cold. 

Offshore wind, on the other hand, delivers strong performance during both winter and summer peaks. Its high-capacity factors and predictable output during system‑stress events make it a valuable complement to existing resources. January’s Winter Storm Fern demonstrated that renewable resources are actually helping to keep a lid on prices. 

Is Offshore Wind Too Costly? New Research Suggests Otherwise 

But what about the misconception around the cost of offshore wind? 

Charles River Associates shared key findings from their recent work evaluating offshore wind within integrated resource planning (IRP) frameworks. They summarized that offshore wind is increasingly cost‑competitive, especially when modeled alongside the full system benefits it provides, such as reduced fuel price risk and improved reliability. That insight cuts against the prevailing narrative that offshore wind is simply “too expensive” to scale. 

Will Offshore Wind Replace Natural Gas? Not So Fast—And That’s a Good Thing 

Offshore wind should be woven into an all-of-the-above energy approach. Other energy sources will continue to play a pivotal role for the foreseeable future. Hillary emphasized that the grid is strongest when built from a diverse toolkit. Different resources excel under different conditions, and offshore wind’s characteristics—especially during winter stress periods—make it a powerful partner, not a replacement. Complementarity, not competition, is the key. 

Key Takeaways: We Need “All of the Energy We Can Get” 

Turn Forward wrapped up the session by reflecting on several powerful throughlines that emerged from the conversation. Above all, she noted a clear sense of urgency: the United States must bring new power resources online quickly, across all technologies, to keep pace with accelerating demand. The era of assuming electric reliability, she emphasized, is over. With grid growth reaching unprecedented levels, sustained investment is no longer optional but essential.  

Within that landscape, offshore wind stands out as a strategic asset: it is cost competitive, scalable, and fuel free, and its strongest production often aligns with the very periods of grid stress highlighted earlier in the discussion. Still, Bright warned that no single resource will solve these challenges alone. Offshore wind’s greatest strength may be how well it complements other generation sources, reinforcing the need for a resilient, diversified, all-of-the-above energy strategy.