Offshore wind and onshore solar have changed the energy landscape. But they can’t do it all. As the push toward net-zero 2050 accelerates, engineers are looking deeper, quite literally, for consistent, round-the-clock renewable power. The ocean holds the answer. Tidal and wave energy are now stepping into the commercial spotlight, while subsea cables and connectors evolve to handle higher voltages, smarter networks, and longer lifespans. In our trend report (longread: 30 minutes) you can download at the bottom of this blog post, we explore the engineering breakthroughs making marine energy the missing piece in the global clean-power grid. And what it means for cable design, deployment, and reliability. But first, in just 2-3 minutes, let's find out if the trend report is worth your energy and time...
Introduction
For decades, offshore wind and solar have carried the renewable energy revolution. But engineers know their limits — variable output, grid instability, and the need for storage that doesn’t yet scale. The next leap forward is coming from deeper waters: tidal and wave energy.
These technologies are no longer futuristic concepts. Around Europe and beyond, they’re moving from pilot projects to commercial deployment, driven by new subsea cable systems, connector innovations, and a fresh wave of engineering ingenuity. At DeRegt, we work where renewable ambition meets subsea reality, and the data from the field is clear: the ocean is ready to become the next major pillar of sustainable power.
1. Tidal power: constant, predictable, scalable
Unlike solar and wind, tidal energy is consistent; governed by gravitational cycles, not weather. Engineers are now solving the scaling challenge: how to move from single prototype turbines to multi-device arrays producing megawatts of constant power. The key is cable and connector integration. In new “hub-and-spoke” designs, five to eight tidal devices link to a central subsea hub that transmits energy to shore via high-voltage export cables. Wet-mate connectors, modular architectures, and smart subsea hubs make this expansion possible. And prove that engineering, not chance, drives reliability at sea.
2. Wave energy: power you can store
Wave energy converters are being paired with subsea battery systems to power offshore oil & gas platforms and autonomous subsea operations. Reducing emissions while improving reliability. Projects like Blue X and SeaRAY AOPS are already turning ocean motion into stored, dispatchable energy, creating hybrid systems that can supply grid power, charge AUVs, or feed remote sensors. For engineers, these are real-world validation cases: wave energy working as both generator and grid stabilizer.
3. Designing for a nature-positive future
As energy systems expand offshore, nature-positive design becomes critical. Engineers are creating subsea cables and connectors free from harmful coatings and microplastics, ensuring that performance and ecology can coexist. It’s not just compliance, it’s smarter design thinking that anticipates the next decade of sustainability standards.
The bigger picture
Tidal and wave energy won’t replace wind and solar, they’ll complete them. Together, they’ll form a more balanced, stable, 24/7 clean-power grid, powered by the ocean and connected through high-performance subsea systems. For engineers in renewables, this is your frontier: turning hydrodynamics into clean power, one connector, hub, and cable at a time.
