Strategies for sustainable development of offshore wind power in regions with limited resources

Abstract

Offshore wind power, as a renewable energy source, possesses significant potential in the process of decarbonizing the energy system. Despite the current lack of economic competitiveness compared to other renewable energy sources, offshore wind power development has not received due attention. Nonetheless, it holds significant potential for future growth given the dual pressures of increasing power demand and carbon reduction. Consequently, a bottom-up energy system planning model is developed to consider the simultaneous transition of supply and demand sides, focusing on offshore wind power development and integration in Hebei, China, a region with limited resources. The analysis indicates that by 2060, Hebei could potentially install up to 20 GW of offshore wind power capacity, with the Tangshan area identified as a suitable location for wind power integration. In current policy background, which is considered more aggressive, the annual cost across the entire system is projected to increase by 7 %. Offshore wind power is deemed particularly suitable for hydrogen production to mitigate seasonal fluctuations, contingent upon synchronized energy transition on the demand side and corresponding hydrogen demand. A typical operational strategy involves hydrogen production from offshore wind power during winter and spring, with storage or utilization during summer and autumn.