A Hybrid MCDM and GIS Framework for Offshore Wind Development: A Case Study of Site Selection and Roadmap for Chile.

As the global energy sector shifts toward cleaner and more sustainable sources, offshore wind is emerging as a crucial component for achieving sustainable development and reducing carbon emissions. Against this background, this thesis presents a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) and GIS framework that aims to identify optimal sites for offshore wind farms by integrating spatial planning analysis with MCDM techniques. Using GIS, key environmental, technical, and social criteria are mapped and analyzed. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is applied to weight these criteria, and the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is then used to rank the identified potential sites based on their suitability. The resulting spatial suitability map then classifies sites into Zones A, B, and C, which, along with MDCM, are used again to benchmark the country. The qualitative analysis informs a phased roadmap with short-, medium-, and long-term milestones tailored for Chile’s institutional maturity and infrastructure readiness. This approach supports adaptive management, enabling scalable development aligned with technological advances and policy evolution. Greater suitability can be observed in the southern regions, characterized by sufficient availability of offshore wind resource and strategic proximity to incipient port infrastructures, while deep waters offer significant opportunities for the deployment of floating offshore wind technologies. This zone is a prime candidate, particularly because of its synergy with green hydrogen production. However, diverse challenges are identified, including limited grid infrastructure and the Southern Macrozone conflict. The results provide data-driven input for developing a phased development roadmap and actionable novel insights for policymakers, investors, and stakeholders seeking to accelerate Chile’s transition to sustainable energy.