Offshore Renewable Energy: Engineering Challenges and Innovations

The world's oceans hold immense potential to contribute to a sustainable energy future. Offshore renewable energy technologies, including offshore wind, wave energy, tidal energy, geothermal and solar offer a pathway to decarbonize our energy systems and mitigate the impacts of climate change. These technologies can provide clean electricity to coastal communities, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and enhance energy security.

However, harnessing the power of the ocean presents unique engineering challenges. Researchers and engineers must develop innovative solutions to address the harsh marine environment, optimize energy capture, storage and conversion, and ensure the long-term reliability and sustainability of offshore energy systems.

This Research Topic of Frontiers in Energy Research explores the latest advancements in offshore renewable energy engineering. We invite contributions addressing the following topics:
• Design and Analysis of Offshore Structures
- Floating vs. fixed offshore structures
- Hydrodynamic loading and analysis
- Structural integrity and fatigue analysis
- Mooring and anchoring systems
- Installation and maintenance strategies

• Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Processes
- High-performance materials for harsh marine environments (e.g., corrosion-resistant alloys, composites)
- Advanced manufacturing techniques (e.g., additive manufacturing, automated fabrication)
- Sustainable material selection and lifecycle assessment

• Offshore Renewable Energy Technologies: Covering a wide range of technologies, including but not limited to:
- Offshore wind energy: Turbine design, wind farm layout optimization, wake effects, and offshore substations.
- Wave energy converters: Different types of WECs (e.g., oscillating water columns, point absorbers) and their performance characteristics.
- Tidal energy systems: Tidal stream and tidal barrage technologies.
- Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC): Closed-cycle and open-cycle OTEC systems.
- Hybrid energy systems: Integration of multiple renewable energy sources (e.g., wind-wave, wind-tidal) and their control strategies.

• Grid Integration and Energy Storage
- Offshore grid connection challenges and solutions
- Power electronics and control systems for offshore renewables
- Energy storage technologies for offshore applications (e.g., batteries, hydrogen)
- Smart grid integration and management

• Environmental Impact Assessment and Mitigation
- Marine ecosystem impacts of offshore energy development
- Noise pollution and its effects on marine life
- Visual impacts and stakeholder engagement
- Mitigation measures and best practices