Site Selection

Offshore wind power station (OWPS) site
selection using a two-stage MCDM-based
spherical fuzzy set approach
In response to challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change to achieve the goal of ensuring sustainable
economic growth, offshore wind power development not only provides a clean and sustainable source of energy but also
provides opportunities for economic growth and job creation. Offshore wind energy projects have been promptly
suggested in Vietnam due to policy advancement, with the country's excellent wind resources. The success of an offshore
wind energy project is decided mainly by choosing the best location for offshore wind power station (OWPS) construction,
which is a complex multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) problem with the coexistence of conflicting factors. There is a
problem with incomplete decision information use and information loss during the decision-making process, and it is easy
to overlook the interaction difficulty in a fuzzy environment. To address the complex nature of the prioritization problem
posed, this study proposes a hybrid MCDM framework combining the spherical fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (SF-
AHP) and weighted aggregated sum product assessment (WASPAS). SF-AHP is used in the first stage to determine the
significance levels of OWPS evaluation criteria. WASPAS is then utilized to rank locations of OWPS. A comprehensive set
of evaluation criteria developed based on the concept of sustainable development has been recognized by reviewing the
literature review and interviewing experts to practice the two-stage MCDM model. A real case study for Vietnam is
conducted to test the effectiveness of the proposed method. The best location schemes have been determined by using
the decision framework. The results of the sensitivity analysis and a comparison analysis demonstrate that the decision
framework is practical and robust. The proposed methodology can be used to attain a decision-making process at the
regional level for offshore wind farm planning and coastal development, and the study results encourage the
establishment of renewable energy development policies.
•Chia-Nan Wang,
•Ngoc-Ai-Thy Nguyen &
•Thanh-Tuan Dang

The site selection for hybrid offshore wind and wave power plants (HOWWPP) is a critical step to a
successful HOWWPP project. In this study, a four-stage framework is presented for determining the
most suitable marine areas for the siting of HOWWPP. First, wind and wave energy potentials are
assessed as a foundation for the implementation of a HOWWPP project. Next, unsuitable areas for the
siting of HOWWPP are determined based on exclusion criteria to avoid any potential conflicts
of marine spatial planning. Feasible areas (not satisfying the exclusion criteria) are classified and
converted into spatial layers separately according to evaluation criteria. Then, the triangular fuzzy
analytic hierarchy process is applied to calculate the evaluation criteria weights. Finally, the site
suitability of feasible areas is calculated using the weighted overlay approach and then categorized
into five classes. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed framework, a case study in Hainan
Province of China was conducted. The results indicate that the marine areas with medium to very high
suitability are approximately 1312 km2 (4.7% of the study area) for the deployment of HOWWPP. The
obtained results of this study can support potential planners in selecting marine areas for the
installation of HOWWPP.
Site selection for hybrid offshore wind and wave power plants using a four-stage framework: A case study in Hainan, China
Xiao Zhou a b, , , , , , Yu Liu a b c

Offshore wind power plant site selection using Analytical Hierarchy Process for Northwest Turkey
This study presents a quantitative methodology for offshore wind power plant site selection in
Northwest Turkey using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Analytical Hierarchy Process,
which is one of the Multi-Criteria Decision Making methods. A comprehensive literature review is
conducted to identify more than 17 site selection criteria and required GIS data were collected
accordingly. Site selection criteria are classified as decision and exclusion criteria. Decision criteria
along with their suitable limits and exclusion criteria are evaluated in GIS resulting in five alternative
suitable sites. Alternative site pairwise comparison matrices are formed in terms of each decision
criterion. In the meantime, a hierarchy of decision criteria is formed, and a questionnaire comparing
the relative importance of decision criteria is conducted on national and international experts.
Electricity grid connection, offshore average wind speed at 100 m height and environmental concerns
are found to be the most important decision criteria. Relative importance of decision criteria and
alternative site comparisons are combined in two different analyses, namely “scenario analysis” and
“consensus analysis”. Out of the five alternative sites, Bozcaada is concluded to be the most suitable
site, and the second-best alternative is Kıyıköy.
Eray Caceoğlu a, , , ,