Review and Evaluation of Offshore Wind Energy: Resources, Markets and Technologies

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36688/imej.8.309-319

Keywords:

Offshore wind resouces, Offshore wind markets, Offshore wind technologies, Review

Abstract

Offshore wind energy is rapidly emerging in the global shift towards sustainable energy, offering vast potential to meet increasing energy demands with minimal environmental impact compared to other onshore renewables. Australia has demonstrated world-class offshore wind potential; however, its industry remains relatively immature compared to major offshore wind regions in the EU and Asia, particularly in terms of resource assessment, technology readiness, market development, and regulatory framework. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review and evaluation of offshore wind, encompassing resource assessment, market development, and technological advancements, offering valuable insights for major stakeholders in Australia. This study first reviews global offshore wind development, highlighting regions with significant wind resources, and then examines the offshore wind resources and potential markets in Australia. The key technologies in offshore wind, including wind turbine generators, foundations (both bottom-fixed and floating), power electronics, control topologies, and transmission technologies, are comprehensively evaluated and discussed with a focus on development in Australia.

Author Biographies

Qiang (Dan) Gao, Aurecon

Qiang Gao is a sustainable energy specialist with an electrical engineering background. He received the B.Eng. degree from Chongqing University in 2016, the M.Eng. degree from the University of Melbourne in 2019, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical and electronic engineering from the University of Adelaide in 2023. He is currently a Senior Technical Specialist with Aurecon Group and also an adjunct research fellow with the Joint Research Centre of Offshore Wind and Wave Energy Harnessing at the University of Adelaide.

Nesimi Ertugrul

Nesimi Ertugrul received the B.Sc. degree in electrical engineering and the M.Sc. degree in electronic and communication engineering in 1985 and 1989, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical and electronic engineering from the University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K., in 1993. Since 1994, he has been with the University of Adelaide, Australia. His primary research interests include control of brushless permanent magnet machines, emerging magnetic materials (amorphous magnetic materials and soft magnetic composites) in high efficiency rotating electrical machines, renewable energy (PV and Wind) systems, autonomous and electric vehicle technologies, grid scale battery storage systems, and power quality and condition monitoring in power system and electrical machines.

Boyin Ding

Boyin Ding obtained his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Adelaide in 2014. He is now an Associate Professor at the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, the University of Adelaide. He has been working on robotics and real-time control systems for over a decade, with a primary interest in studying robust wave energy PTO control for best practice.

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Published

2025-09-16

How to Cite

Gao, Q., Ertugrul, N., & Ding, B. (2025). Review and Evaluation of Offshore Wind Energy: Resources, Markets and Technologies. International Marine Energy Journal, 8(3), 309–319. https://doi.org/10.36688/imej.8.309-319

Issue

Section

ICOE 2024 special issue papers