Bottom-Up and Data-Driven Modelling for Offshore Floating PV Platform

The global shift toward renewable energy has introduced new challenges regarding space availability in Europe, particularly for solar-based systems, which are inherently low in energy density. This means they require significantly larger areas compared to traditional energy plants. Offshore floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems represent a promising solution, particularly in the Mediterranean region, where no extreme weather events have been recorded in the past forty years. Despite this, the basin still has limited FPV installations compared to other global regions. This thesis focuses on five representative Mediterranean and European locations—Pantelleria, Gulf of Gabes, Ceuta, Jersey, and Zadar—selected based on geographical diversity and environmental relevance, and their shared need for energy for both industrial and civil use. To evaluate the structural sustainability of different FPV platforms at each site, a data-driven methodology is developed, where the principal decision-making parameter is the significant wave height (Hs). Findings from this method indicate that Class3 platforms can withstand higher Hs, while Class2 represents the less robust structure. The approach also considers the possibility of applying seasonal removal—a key operational consideration during periods with challenging water conditions—where the system must be dismantled and reinstalled annually. Thanks to this, for different locations, it was possible to opt for a cheaper platform type. These operations are explicitly taken into account during the techno-economic analysis conducted in the thesis to ensure a more accurate and realistic long-term feasibility assessment. In parallel, a bottom-up approach (BuA) is applied to estimate the capital expenditure (CAPEX) related to the filtered platform types found in the literature, focusing on the pontoon-type. The cost breakdown includes floating, mooring, electrical substations, submarine cables, and labour, and the results show that the most robust platforms also have the highest CAPEX. This thesis also discusses the limitations of using tracking systems on different platforms and how this affects the daily and annual energy production (AEP). Other economic parameters, such as the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) and Payback Time (PBT), are also analyzed and compared across the selected locations. In addition, the thesis includes an environmental analysis, focusing on the CO2 emissions avoided by relying on the FPV system and providing a quantitative estimate. The results shows divergence in technical and financial viability for the different sites and platform types. Locations such as Ceuta, Jersey, Pantelleria, and Zadar demonstrate strong economic potential, while the Gulf of Gabes and Gotland face higher costs or negative returns due to both environmental and operational constraints.