IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v215y2025ics1364032125002369.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A global cross-resource assessment of offshore renewable energy

Author

Listed:
  • James, Spalding
  • Christopher, White
  • Lauren, Ross

Abstract

Current global climate mitigation efforts are considered insufficient to meet international carbon emission targets. Modeled scenarios showing how these targets can be reached are underpinned by further renewable energy development. Offshore renewable energy has been shown to have energy potentials that are more than double the global electricity demand. Previous assessments investigating Offshore renewable energy potentials typically focused on a single resource type and use a wide range of units. However, these assessments have not been compared on a global scale and therefore it is largely unknown which resource types have the largest energy potentials at any given location. This study undertakes a global cross-resource assessment of marine renewable energy potentials, collecting previous marine renewable energy resource assessments in a single database with standardized energy potentials. The assessments collected are compared to the theoretical energy potential of other resource types at each location. Tidal and ocean currents and offshore solar are found to have consistently higher energy potentials than the other resource types. An expanded feasible global energy potential for tidal currents and offshore solar is found. Results show if only 2 % of this potential is harnessed from future turbine development, CO2 emissions could be significantly reduced helping meet international emission targets and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Suggested Citation

  • James, Spalding & Christopher, White & Lauren, Ross, 2025. "A global cross-resource assessment of offshore renewable energy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:215:y:2025:i:c:s1364032125002369
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2025.115563
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032125002369
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2025.115563?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ulazia, Alain & Sáenz, Jon & Ibarra-Berastegi, Gabriel & González-Rojí, Santos J. & Carreno-Madinabeitia, Sheila, 2019. "Global estimations of wind energy potential considering seasonal air density changes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    2. Nachtane, M. & Tarfaoui, M. & Goda, I. & Rouway, M., 2020. "A review on the technologies, design considerations and numerical models of tidal current turbines," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 1274-1288.
    3. Eugen Rusu & Vengatesan Venugopal, 2019. "Special Issue “Offshore Renewable Energy: Ocean Waves, Tides and Offshore Wind”," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-4, January.
    4. Kim Maya Yavor & Vanessa Bach & Matthias Finkbeiner, 2021. "Resource Assessment of Renewable Energy Systems—A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, May.
    5. Tao, Siyu & Xu, Qingshan & Feijóo-Lorenzo, Andrés E. & Zheng, Gang & Zhou, Jiemin, 2021. "Optimal layout of a Co-Located wind/tidal current farm considering forbidden zones," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    6. Izadyar, Nima & Ong, Hwai Chyuan & Chong, W.T. & Leong, K.Y., 2016. "Resource assessment of the renewable energy potential for a remote area: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 908-923.
    7. Waters, Shaun & Aggidis, George, 2016. "Tidal range technologies and state of the art in review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 514-529.
    8. Carvalho, D. & Rocha, A. & Costoya, X. & deCastro, M. & Gómez-Gesteira, M., 2021. "Wind energy resource over Europe under CMIP6 future climate projections: What changes from CMIP5 to CMIP6," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    9. O'Rourke, Fergal & Boyle, Fergal & Reynolds, Anthony, 2010. "Tidal current energy resource assessment in Ireland: Current status and future update," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(9), pages 3206-3212, December.
    10. Li, Ming & Luo, Haojie & Zhou, Shijie & Senthil Kumar, Gokula Manikandan & Guo, Xinman & Law, Tin Chung & Cao, Sunliang, 2022. "State-of-the-art review of the flexibility and feasibility of emerging offshore and coastal ocean energy technologies in East and Southeast Asia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    11. Weinzettel, Jan & Reenaas, Marte & Solli, Christian & Hertwich, Edgar G., 2009. "Life cycle assessment of a floating offshore wind turbine," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 742-747.
    12. Elsner, Paul, 2019. "Continental-scale assessment of the African offshore wind energy potential: Spatial analysis of an under-appreciated renewable energy resource," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 394-407.
    13. Neill, Simon P. & Angeloudis, Athanasios & Robins, Peter E. & Walkington, Ian & Ward, Sophie L. & Masters, Ian & Lewis, Matt J. & Piano, Marco & Avdis, Alexandros & Piggott, Matthew D. & Aggidis, Geor, 2018. "Tidal range energy resource and optimization – Past perspectives and future challenges," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 763-778.
    14. Takvor H. Soukissian & Dimitra Denaxa & Flora Karathanasi & Aristides Prospathopoulos & Konstantinos Sarantakos & Athanasia Iona & Konstantinos Georgantas & Spyridon Mavrakos, 2017. "Marine Renewable Energy in the Mediterranean Sea: Status and Perspectives," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-56, September.
    15. Rusu, Liliana, 2019. "The wave and wind power potential in the western Black Sea," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1146-1158.
    16. James M. Wilczak & Elena Akish & Antonietta Capotondi & Gilbert P. Compo, 2024. "Evaluation and Bias Correction of the ERA5 Reanalysis over the United States for Wind and Solar Energy Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-36, March.
    17. Khan, N. & Kalair, A. & Abas, N. & Haider, A., 2017. "Review of ocean tidal, wave and thermal energy technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 590-604.
    18. Anthony Roy & François Auger & Florian Dupriez-Robin & Salvy Bourguet & Quoc Tuan Tran, 2018. "Electrical Power Supply of Remote Maritime Areas: A Review of Hybrid Systems Based on Marine Renewable Energies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-27, July.
    19. Ahn, Seongho & Haas, Kevin A. & Neary, Vincent S., 2019. "Wave energy resource classification system for US coastal waters," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 54-68.
    20. Uihlein, Andreas & Magagna, Davide, 2016. "Wave and tidal current energy – A review of the current state of research beyond technology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 1070-1081.
    21. Nie, Bingchuan & Li, Jiachun, 2018. "Technical potential assessment of offshore wind energy over shallow continent shelf along China coast," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 128(PA), pages 391-399.
    22. VanZwieten, James H. & Rauchenstein, Lynn T. & Lee, Louis, 2017. "An assessment of Florida's ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) resource," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 683-691.
    23. Omar Bellprat & Virginie Guemas & Francisco Doblas-Reyes & Markus G. Donat, 2019. "Towards reliable extreme weather and climate event attribution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-7, December.
    24. Lee, Nathan & Grunwald, Ursula & Rosenlieb, Evan & Mirletz, Heather & Aznar, Alexandra & Spencer, Robert & Cox, Sadie, 2020. "Hybrid floating solar photovoltaics-hydropower systems: Benefits and global assessment of technical potential," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1415-1427.
    25. Andrea Farkas & Nastia Degiuli & Ivana Martić, 2019. "Assessment of Offshore Wave Energy Potential in the Croatian Part of the Adriatic Sea and Comparison with Wind Energy Potential," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-20, June.
    26. Roger Samsó & Júlia Crespin & Antonio García-Olivares & Jordi Solé, 2023. "Examining the Potential of Marine Renewable Energy: A Net Energy Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-35, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Li, Gang & Zhu, Weidong, 2023. "Tidal current energy harvesting technologies: A review of current status and life cycle assessment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    2. Radfar, Soheil & Panahi, Roozbeh & Javaherchi, Teymour & Filom, Siyavash & Mazyaki, Ahmad Rezaee, 2017. "A comprehensive insight into tidal stream energy farms in Iran," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 323-338.
    3. Zhongliang Meng & Yun Chen & Shizhen Li, 2022. "The Shape Optimization and Experimental Research of Heave Plate Applied to the New Wave Energy Converter," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-12, February.
    4. Zhongliang Meng & Yanjun Liu & Jian Qin & Yun Chen, 2020. "Mathematical Modeling and Experimental Verification of a New Wave Energy Converter," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    5. Shao, Meng & Zhao, Yuanxu & Sun, Jinwei & Han, Zhixin & Shao, Zhuxiao, 2023. "A decision framework for tidal current power plant site selection based on GIS-MCDM: A case study in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(PB).
    6. Milad Shadman & Corbiniano Silva & Daiane Faller & Zhijia Wu & Luiz Paulo de Freitas Assad & Luiz Landau & Carlos Levi & Segen F. Estefen, 2019. "Ocean Renewable Energy Potential, Technology, and Deployments: A Case Study of Brazil," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-37, September.
    7. Zhang, Zeyu & Liang, Yushi & Xue, Xinyue & Li, Yan & Zhang, Mulan & Li, Yiran & Ji, Xiaodong, 2024. "China's future wind energy considering air density during climate change," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    8. Segura, E. & Morales, R. & Somolinos, J.A. & López, A., 2017. "Techno-economic challenges of tidal energy conversion systems: Current status and trends," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 536-550.
    9. Angeloudis, Athanasios & Kramer, Stephan C. & Hawkins, Noah & Piggott, Matthew D., 2020. "On the potential of linked-basin tidal power plants: An operational and coastal modelling assessment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 876-888.
    10. Joan Pau Sierra & Ricard Castrillo & Marc Mestres & César Mösso & Piero Lionello & Luigi Marzo, 2020. "Impact of Climate Change on Wave Energy Resource in the Mediterranean Coast of Morocco," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, June.
    11. Roome, Edward & Robins, Peter & Ahmadian, Reza & Austin, Martin & Hanousek, Nicolas & Guo, Bin & Neill, Simon, 2024. "Assessing hydrodynamic impacts of tidal range energy impoundments in UK coastal waters," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PB).
    12. López, A. & Morán, J.L. & Núñez, L.R. & Somolinos, J.A., 2020. "Study of a cost model of tidal energy farms in early design phases with parametrization and numerical values. Application to a second-generation device," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    13. Segura, E. & Morales, R. & Somolinos, J.A., 2018. "A strategic analysis of tidal current energy conversion systems in the European Union," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 527-551.
    14. Clemente, D. & Rosa-Santos, P. & Taveira-Pinto, F., 2021. "On the potential synergies and applications of wave energy converters: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    15. María José Suárez-López & Rodolfo Espina-Valdés & Víctor Manuel Fernández Pacheco & Antonio Navarro Manso & Eduardo Blanco-Marigorta & Eduardo Álvarez-Álvarez, 2019. "A Review of Software Tools to Study the Energetic Potential of Tidal Currents," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-19, May.
    16. Zhang, Mengjie & Huang, Biao & Wu, Qin & Zhang, Mindi & Wang, Guoyu, 2020. "The interaction between the transient cavitating flow and hydrodynamic performance around a pitching hydrofoil," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 1276-1291.
    17. Zhang, Mengjie & Liu, Taotao & Huang, Biao & Wu, Qin & Wang, Guoyu, 2020. "Hydrodynamic characteristics and flow structures of pitching hydrofoil with special emphasis on the added force effect," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 560-573.
    18. Jingwei Cao & Jinkai Liu & Xin Liu & Chongji Zeng & Hewen Hu & Yongyao Luo, 2025. "A Review of Marine Renewable Energy Utilization Technology and Its Integration with Aquaculture," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-29, May.
    19. Roger Samsó & Júlia Crespin & Antonio García-Olivares & Jordi Solé, 2023. "Examining the Potential of Marine Renewable Energy: A Net Energy Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-35, May.
    20. Hu, Huakun & Xue, Wendong & Jiang, Peng & Li, Yong, 2022. "Bibliometric analysis for ocean renewable energy: An comprehensive review for hotspots, frontiers, and emerging trends," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:215:y:2025:i:c:s1364032125002369. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.