Why Wave Energy is the Final Frontier of Renewable Energy

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-17T18:40:30.799Z • Permanent link

Renowned oceanographer Dr. Susan Avery, the president and CEO of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, has been a long-time advocate for the harnessing of wave energy as a means of generating renewable power. In recent years, she has been instrumental in spearheading efforts to bring wave energy technology to the forefront of the global renewable energy landscape. Avery's efforts have been bolstered by the launch of the U.S. Department of Energy's Ocean Energy Technologies Office, which has committed significant funding to the development of wave energy technologies. The office has awarded grants to several companies, including Ocean Power Technologies and Verdant Power, to support the testing and deployment of wave energy devices in the United States and around the world.

One of the key players in the wave energy sector is the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which has been conducting extensive research on the potential of wave energy to power coastal communities. NREL's efforts have been focused on developing more efficient and cost-effective wave energy technologies, including the use of advanced materials and innovative device designs. The lab's research has been supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and other government agencies, as well as by private industry partners such as Siemens and General Electric.

The global wave energy market is expected to experience significant growth in the coming years, driven by increasing demand for renewable energy and declining costs for wave energy technologies. According to a recent report by BloombergNEF, the global wave energy market is expected to reach 10 GW of installed capacity by 2030, with the majority of this capacity coming from the United States, Europe, and Japan.

The development of wave energy technologies has significant implications for the global renewable energy landscape, particularly for coastal communities that are looking for new sources of power. Wave energy has the potential to provide reliable and consistent power, even in the absence of wind or solar resources. This makes it an attractive option for communities that are reliant on fossil fuels, which can be expensive and environmentally damaging.

Several major companies, including Siemens and GE, have already begun to deploy wave energy technologies in coastal areas around the world. These deployments are not only providing power to local communities but also helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change. The wave energy industry is also expected to create new job opportunities and stimulate local economies, particularly in coastal regions.

The development of wave energy technologies is part of a larger trend towards the harnessing of ocean energy resources. In recent years, there has been significant investment in the development of tidal and offshore wind energy technologies, which are also being used to generate renewable power. However, wave energy remains one of the most promising and cost-effective forms of ocean energy, particularly for coastal communities.