The Contribution of Offshore Wind to Grid Reliability and Resource Adequacy

White Paper

A new independent analysis by Charles River Associates, released through Turn Forward’s Energy Research Exchange, examines how the United States can meet rapidly growing electricity demand while maintaining reliability and affordability. The study finds that demand from data centers, manufacturing, and electrification is rising faster than new power supply can be built, creating mounting risks for reliability, especially during winter mornings and evenings when traditional generation and fuel systems are most constrained. The authors conclude that meeting this challenge will require a diverse mix of resources, from natural gas and storage to renewables that can perform when the grid is under stress.

The report highlights offshore wind as one of the few large-scale resources that can deliver dependable, fuel-free power close to major coastal demand centers. Using Effective Load Carrying Capability (ELCC) analysis, CRA finds that offshore wind earns among the highest reliability ratings of any renewable resource – comparable in some regions to dispatchable generation – and provides steady output during critical winter and nighttime hours. The findings underscore that America’s reliability challenge isn’t about choosing one energy source over another, but about building everything that works to keep the grid strong, affordable, and ready for the nation’s next wave of economic growth.