Development and application of a multiple-attribute decision-analysis methodology for site selection of floating offshore wind farms on the UK Continental Shelf

This research presents the development of a methodology for determining most suitable floating offshore wind farm locations northern coast Scotland, through application multi-attribute decision-analysis. A large area off Scotland is defined and separated into coordinate grids. The environmental, logistical facilities factors are first analysed in order to remove sites that fall within restricted areas. Following this, data gathered remaining terms set Logistics, Facilities & Environmental, Met-Ocean criteria. criterion consists such as, depth, distance ports substations. Met-ocean provides analysis wind, wave, tidal current conditions each site between 2011 2016, Environmental analyses proximity criteria as Marine Protection Areas, Special Areas Conservation, military training areas subsea facilities. compiled then applied Multiple Attribute Decision Analysis (MADA) algorithm which aggregates produces utility ranking determine wind. Validation conducted benchmark testing correlation with government survey sites.