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Advances in Marine Renewable Energy Utilization and Offshore Storage Technologies
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Advances in Marine Renewable Energy Utilization and Offshore Storage Technologies

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A3: Wind, Wave and Tidal Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 4917

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Ji Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
Interests: marine renewable energy utilization; offshore storage technologies; smart energy
Dr. Hui Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Electrical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
Interests: renewable energy; power systems planning; power systems operation; integrated energy systems; microgrid; artificial intelligence; stability analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The transition to sustainable energy systems has placed marine renewable energy at the forefront of global innovation. Oceans cover over 70% of the Earth’s surface, offering vast potential for harnessing energy through offshore wind, tidal, wave, and ocean thermal technologies. Coupled with advancements in offshore energy storage solutions, these technologies are critical to achieving decarbonization goals, enhancing energy security, and enabling resilient coastal and offshore infrastructure. However, the harsh marine environment, technological complexity, and integration challenges demand continuous breakthroughs in materials, system design, energy conversion efficiency, and storage methodologies. Furthermore, the growing emphasis on hybrid systems, digitalization, and environmental sustainability is driving research toward smarter, more adaptive, and ecologically responsible solutions.

This Special Issue seeks to showcase cutting-edge research and developments in marine renewable energy technologies and their associated offshore storage systems. We invite contributions that address theoretical advancements, experimental validations, computational modeling, and real-world applications aimed at optimizing performance, reliability, and scalability in marine environments.

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Marine energy utilization technologies: Offshore wind energy, tidal energy, wave energy, ocean thermal energy, and salinity gradient energy.
  • Offshore energy storage solutions: Offshore compressed air energy storage, hydrogen production/storage, battery technologies, and hybrid storage systems for grid stability.
  • System integration and grid connectivity: Hybrid marine energy farms, floating platforms, subsea transmission technologies, and microgrid applications.
  • Economic and policy frameworks: Cost-reduction strategies, levelized cost of energy (LCOE) optimization, and regulatory challenges for offshore deployment.
  • Emerging concepts: Floating solar farms, blue energy synergies, and multi-purpose offshore platforms (e.g., energy production combined with aquaculture).

We welcome original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and case studies that push the boundaries of innovation in this rapidly evolving field.

Prof. Dr. Ji Zhang
Dr. Hui Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • offshore wind energy
  • tidal energy conversion
  • wave energy harvesting
  • ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC)
  • energy storage
  • hydrogen storage systems
  • corrosion-resistant coatings
  • grid-connected microgrids
  • offshore energy policy frameworks

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 2496 KB  
Article
Design and Performance Optimization of Coastal Wind and Wave Energy Collection Structures
by Hanwen Zhang, Myun Kim, Junghee Lee, Hao Hu and Yitong Wang
Energies 2026, 19(10), 2252; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19102252 - 7 May 2026
Viewed by 301
Abstract
This study proposes a health and performance optimization framework based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to improve the structural performance and energy utilization efficiency of coastal wind–wave energy harvesting systems. A semi-submersible floating wind turbine–wave energy integrated system is selected as the case [...] Read more.
This study proposes a health and performance optimization framework based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to improve the structural performance and energy utilization efficiency of coastal wind–wave energy harvesting systems. A semi-submersible floating wind turbine–wave energy integrated system is selected as the case study. The control variable method and numerical simulations are employed to determine the optimal structural parameters. Furthermore, a multi-scenario coordinated optimization model for wind, wave, energy storage, and load is established using the Velocity Pause Particle Swarm Optimization (VPPSO) algorithm. The optimal structural parameters are identified as an outer diameter of 16 m, an inner diameter of 8 m, a height of 8 m, and a draft of 3.5 m. The results show that VPPSO achieves faster convergence and better optimization performance compared to conventional algorithms. In the optimal scenario with wind–wave curtailment and energy storage participation, the minimum economic cost of 1780 CNY is achieved after 200 iterations. The proposed method provides theoretical guidance for the optimal design and efficient operation of coastal wind–wave energy harvesting systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Marine Renewable Energy Utilization and Offshore Storage Technologies)
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19 pages, 3319 KB  
Article
Joint Environment Design Parameters for Offshore Floating Wind Turbines in the Yangjiang Sea Area of China
by Zhenglin Li, Dongdong Pan, Shicheng Lin, Jun Wang, Dong Jiang, Yuliang Zhao and Zhifeng Wang
Energies 2026, 19(3), 802; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19030802 - 3 Feb 2026
Viewed by 522
Abstract
In recent years, the increasing frequency of strong and super typhoons has been attributed to rising sea surface temperatures due to global warming. This study utilized the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) and Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) models to analyze 30 years of [...] Read more.
In recent years, the increasing frequency of strong and super typhoons has been attributed to rising sea surface temperatures due to global warming. This study utilized the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) and Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) models to analyze 30 years of wind and wave data for the Yangjiang sea area in China. The accuracy of the numerical simulations was validated using observed data from typhoons Ty201213, Ty201522, Ty201822, and Ty202118, along with wind and wave data from December 2024. This study utilized the P-III distribution to analyze design wind parameters. At a height of 10 m, the 3 s and 10 min mean wind speeds for the 100- and 50-year return periods were 62.21 m/s, 47.85 m/s, 57.99 m/s, and 44.61 m/s, respectively. At hub height (170 m), the corresponding values were 80.27 m/s, 61.75 m/s, 74.84 m/s, and 57.57 m/s. Furthermore, this study successfully applied a 2D-KDE approach to construct a joint probability model and derive environmental contours for extreme environmental assessments. The HS and TP at project point P for the 100- and 50-year return periods are 13.61 m and 15.91 s, as well as 12.39 m and 15.07 s, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Marine Renewable Energy Utilization and Offshore Storage Technologies)
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22 pages, 8827 KB  
Article
Assessment of Offshore Solar Photovoltaic and Wind Energy Resources in the Sea Area of China
by Yanan Wu, Yang Bai, Qingwei Zhou and He Wu
Energies 2026, 19(2), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19020458 - 16 Jan 2026
Viewed by 758
Abstract
Against the backdrop of China’s “dual carbon” targets, the energy transition is accelerating. However, the expansion of onshore renewables is often constrained by land scarcity. Offshore areas thus present a promising alternative. In this study, high-resolution wind field data from 1995 to 2024 [...] Read more.
Against the backdrop of China’s “dual carbon” targets, the energy transition is accelerating. However, the expansion of onshore renewables is often constrained by land scarcity. Offshore areas thus present a promising alternative. In this study, high-resolution wind field data from 1995 to 2024 were generated using the WRF model driven by ERA5 reanalysis, enabling a 30-year spatiotemporal assessment of offshore wind power density (at 160 m hub height) and photovoltaic potential (PVP) across China’s four major seas—the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea. The results show clear spatial and seasonal patterns: solar PV potential decreases from south to north, with the South China Sea exhibiting the highest and most stable annual average PVP (16–18%) and summer peaks exceeding 25%. Wind energy resources are spatially heterogeneous; the East China Sea and Taiwan Strait are identified as the richest zones, where wind power density frequently reaches 800–1800 W/m2 during autumn and winter. Importantly, a pronounced seasonal complementarity is observed: wind peaks in autumn/winter while solar peaks in spring/summer at representative coastal sites. This study provides, for the first time, a long-term, integrated assessment of both offshore wind and solar resources over all four Chinese seas, offering quantitative data and a scientific basis for differentiated marine energy planning, optimized siting, and the design of wind–solar hybrid systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Marine Renewable Energy Utilization and Offshore Storage Technologies)
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18 pages, 3093 KB  
Article
An Optimal Dispatch Method for Power Systems with High Penetration of Renewable Power and CHP Units Utilizing the Combined GA and PSO Algorithm
by Zhongxi Ou, Liang Zhang, Xubin Xing, Pupu Chao, Zhu Tong and Fenfen Li
Energies 2026, 19(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19010012 - 19 Dec 2025
Viewed by 434
Abstract
With the improvement scale of grid connection renewable power, accurately forecasting and effectively coordinating systems with various energy sources has become much more important for power system scheduling and operation. Considering the uncertain characteristics of renewable energy and CHP units, this paper proposes [...] Read more.
With the improvement scale of grid connection renewable power, accurately forecasting and effectively coordinating systems with various energy sources has become much more important for power system scheduling and operation. Considering the uncertain characteristics of renewable energy and CHP units, this paper proposes an optimal dispatch method with multi-prediction models and an improved solving method by series correction and parallel coupling analysis. Firstly, multiple-model stationary time series are obtained by EMD (empirical mode decomposition) of the prediction results from multiple models. Then, series decomposition is updated by the UKF (unscented Kalman filter). Using the least-squares method, the parallel coupling of the correction results is solved. A complex optimal scheduling model with multiple renewable energy sources and CHP units is proposed and solved with the help of the improved GA and PSO combined algorithm to avoid the algorithm falling into local optimal conditions. Simulations show that the proposed optimal dispatch model and algorithm are able to consider the uncertain characteristics of renewable energy and CHP units with better performance than some typical methods, such as the baseline method that combines single-model BP forecasting with conventional PSO-based dispatch. These results demonstrate that the proposed EMD–UKF-based multi-model forecasting combined with the improved GA–PSO-based dispatch framework provides an effective and practically applicable tool for enhancing the economic and low-carbon operation of multi-energy systems with high renewable penetration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Marine Renewable Energy Utilization and Offshore Storage Technologies)
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26 pages, 14492 KB  
Article
Experimental and Numerical Study of a Towing Test for a Barge-Type Floating Offshore Wind Turbine
by Samuel Davis, Anthony Viselli and Amrit Verma
Energies 2025, 18(19), 5228; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18195228 - 1 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1362
Abstract
Several experimental and numerical studies have been conducted on the towing behavior of floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs); however, these studies mainly focus on tension-leg platform (TLP) and semi-submersible designs with cylindrical features. The University of Maine’s VolturnUS+ concept is a cruciform-shaped barge-type [...] Read more.
Several experimental and numerical studies have been conducted on the towing behavior of floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs); however, these studies mainly focus on tension-leg platform (TLP) and semi-submersible designs with cylindrical features. The University of Maine’s VolturnUS+ concept is a cruciform-shaped barge-type FOWT with distinctive hydrodynamic properties that have not been characterized in previous research. This study presents basin-scale experiments that characterize the hydrodynamic drag properties of the VolturnUS+ platform, as well as observing the motion behavior of the platform and added resistance during towing in calm water and waves. The towing experiments are conducted in two towing configurations, with differing platform orientations and towline designs. The basin experiments are supplemented with a numerical study using computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations to explore flow-induced motion (FIM) on the platform during towing. In both the experiments and the CFD simulations, it was determined that the towing configuration significantly impacted the drag and motion characteristics of the platform, with the cruciform shape producing FIM phenomena. Observations from the towing tests confirmed the feasibility of towing the VolturnUS+ platform in the two orientations. The results and observations developed from the experimental and numerical towing studies will be used to inform numerical models for planning towing operations, as well as develop informed recommendations for towing similar cruciform-shaped structures in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Marine Renewable Energy Utilization and Offshore Storage Technologies)
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21 pages, 3570 KB  
Article
Performance Studies on a Scaled Model of Dual Oscillating-Buoys WEC with One Pneumatic PTO
by Peiyu Liu, Xiang Rao, Bijun Wu, Zhiwen Yuan and Fuming Zhang
Energies 2025, 18(15), 4151; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18154151 - 5 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 946
Abstract
A hybrid wave energy conversion (WEC) system, integrating a backward bent duct buoy (BBDB) with an oscillating buoy (OB) via a flexible mooring chain, is introduced in this study. Unlike existing hybrid WECs, the proposed system dispenses with rigid mechanical linkages and enables [...] Read more.
A hybrid wave energy conversion (WEC) system, integrating a backward bent duct buoy (BBDB) with an oscillating buoy (OB) via a flexible mooring chain, is introduced in this study. Unlike existing hybrid WECs, the proposed system dispenses with rigid mechanical linkages and enables flexible offshore deployment. Flared BBDB and buoy models with spherical, cylindrical, and semi-capsule shapes are designed and tested experimentally in a wave flume using both regular and irregular wave conditions. The effects of nozzle ratio (NR), coupling distance, buoy draft, and buoy geometry are systematically examined to investigate the hydrodynamic performance and energy conversion characteristics. It is found that NR at 110 under unidirectional airflow produces an optimal balance between pressure response, free surface displacement, and energy conversion efficiency. Energy extraction is significantly influenced by the coupling distance, with the hybrid system achieving maximum performance at a specific normalized spacing. The semi-capsule buoy improves power extraction ability and expands effective bandwidth due to asymmetric shape and coupled motion. These findings provide valuable insights into the coupling mechanism and geometric optimization for hybrid WECs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Marine Renewable Energy Utilization and Offshore Storage Technologies)
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