Rådande situation med klimatförändringar och oroligheter i Europa kräver åtgärder för att kunna skifta från fossila bränslen och energikällor till mer hållbara alternativ. Elförbrukningen väntas öka signifikant i Sverige och ett alternativ för att tillgodose hållbar energi och klimatmål är utvecklingen av vindkraft. Satsningar sker alltmer på havsbaserad vindkraft eftersom det är goda vindförhållanden och mindre påverkan för människor i närområdet eftersom vindkraftverken kan placeras långt från kusten. I många fall är det projekteringsföretag, kommuner och politiker som beslutar placeringen av vindkraftverken. Ett problem som uppstår är när allmänheten anser att det uppstår störningar på grund av att vindkraftverken placeras i dess närhet och att de inte får deltaga i planeringsprocessen. Studien syftar till att hitta lämpliga platser för havsbaserad vindkraft utifrån metoderna medborgardialog och multikriterie-analys för att kunna integrera medborgarinflytande i planeringsprocessen. ”Mjuka kriterier” som ofta tas upp i sammanhang om vindkraft har tagits i beaktning och har skickats ut i en enkätundersökning för att få in vad som är viktigast för invånare i Gävle kommun. Dessa innefattar hur stor påverkan respondenterna uppfattas kunna påverkas av som till exempel ljud, utsikt och buller. Utifrån dessa kriterier fick respondenterna rangordna samtliga för att skapa en viktning till multikriterie-analysen. Beskrivande statistik på vad respondenterna är oroliga för att påverkas av vid byggnation av havsbaserad vindkraft togs fram för att styrka studiens legitimitet. Resultatet visar att det är en stor majoritet av respondenter som är positivt inställd mot vindkraft och att respondenter inte uttrycker någon signifikant oro. Metoden MKA med viktning av rank sum weights användes för att skapa olika kartor faktor- och restriktionskartor baserat på respondenternas svar samt en teknisk analys utifrån en omfattande litteraturstudie. Den tekniska analysen använder kriterier som havsdjup, avstånd till kraftstationer och hamnar som inte klassas som ”mjuka kriterier”. Resultatet visar att medborgardialogen påverkar vilken lokalisering vindkraftverken får jämfört med den tekniska analysen. En slutgiltig karta skapades för att visa var någonstans vindkraftparken kan hamna om båda delarna tillgodoses. Studien tyder på att ett större underlag för medborgardialog kunnat ge ett tydligare resultat samt att viss typ av data hade krävts för en ordentlig teknisk analys. Det nya som denna studie har utvecklat är en metod för att föra en medborgardialog gällande havsbaserad vindkraft och kvantifierat invånarnas åsikter till geografiska data. / The current situation with climate change and unrest in Europe requires measures to be able to switch from fossil fuels and energy sources to more sustainable alternatives. Electricity consumption is expected to increase significantly in Sweden and an alternative for meeting sustainable energy and climate goals is the development of wind power. Investments are increasingly being made in offshore wind power because it has adequate wind conditions and less impact for people in the immediate area since the turbines can be located far from the shore. In many cases, it is corporations, municipalities and politicians who decide on the location of the wind turbines. A problem that arises is when the public considers that disturbances occur due to the fact that the wind turbines are located in their vicinity and that they are not offered the possibility to participate in the planning process. The study aims to find suitable places for offshore wind power based on the methods citizen dialogue and multi-criteria analysis to be able to integrate citizen influence in the planning process. "Soft criteria" that are often raised in the context of wind power was taken into account and was included in a survey to address what is important for residents of Gävle municipality. These include how much impact the respondent is perceived to be affected by, such as sound, view and noise. Based on these criteria, the respondents were allowed to rank all of them in order to create a weighting for the multi-criteria analysis. Descriptive statistics based on what the respondents are worried about being affected by during the construction of offshore wind power were produced to prove the legitimacy of the study. The results show that a large majority of respondents are positive towards wind power and that respondents do not express any significant concern regarding the construction of offshore wind power. The MCA method with weighting method rank sum weights was used to create different factor and constraint maps based on the survey answers and a technical analysis based on an extensive literature study. The technical analysis uses criteria such as bathymetry, distance to power stations and ports that are not classified as "soft criteria". The results show that the citizen dialogue affects the location of the wind turbines compared to the technical analysis. A final map was created to show where the wind farm could end up if both parts are met. The study indicates that a more comprehensive citizen dialogue could have given a more concise result and that a certain type of data had been required for a more thorough technical analysis. The new thing that this study has developed is a method for conducting a citizen dialogue regarding offshore wind power and quantifying the inhabitants' opinions to geographical data.

The aim of this Thesis is to consider a methodological framework suitable to support a primary and primitive investigation and evaluation of the technical applicability and energy feasibility of a specific Energy Island model in Greece. For such purpose, the general concept and the potential applications of Energy Island are presented, and the present situation of the Greek energy sector and RES technologies in Greece are outlined. In order to attempt to evaluate the technical performance of a specific Energy Island model in Greece, a theoretical and hypothetical Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) process is developed and conducted. The methodological framework developed and applied for the present case study pertains to a theoretical decision-making process for the selection of the optimum Energy Island scenario in Greece amongst four (4) alternatives. As derived from the extracted results of the applied MCDA model, the hypothetical scenario with the highest annual energy production and the least environmental and technological issues ranks optimal for all the implicated stakeholders and is considered the most preferred alternative. This Thesis concludes that the perspective of the various applications of the concept of the Energy Island model has the potential to contribute to more efficient utilization of the available RES technologies in Greece, in order to accelerate the decarbonization of the Greek energy system as well as to assure the security of the system, by replacing the existing conventional fossil fuel generation plants with clean offshore renewable energy.

Despite currently having only one operational offshore wind farm, Italy holds a significant potential for the future development of this technology. The Global Wind Council placed Italy second in its ranking of the world’s 30 most attractive markets regarding the potential of future offshore development, attracting the attention of numerous developers. The characteristics of the Mediterranean Sea, with its high water depth, make it possible to develop mainly floating technology. Furthermore, the absence of severe weather events, present in the Atlantic and the North Sea instead, enhanced security and contributed to the reduction of investment risks. Currently, there are many new wind farms awaiting approval, as evidenced by Terna, the Italian Transmission System Operator (TSO), which announced that by the end of October 2022 the connection requests for offshore wind projects had reached 95 GW. This thesis aims to develop an approach able to compare several projects from multiple perspectives. Specifically, the thesis applies the Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis to evaluate and compare four floating offshore wind farms which are now in the permitting phase. The projects are located off the coast of Sardinia, one of the most promising locations in the Mediterranean Sea for offshore wind installation. The evaluation of the future wind farms is conducted using eleven criteria, each assigned a different weight based on the preferences of six stakeholder groups. The tool used to rank the criteria is the PROMETHEE tool. The results demonstrate that each stakeholder group ranks the projects differently based on their respective preferences. Finally, an overall ranking of the wind farms is derived, identifying the most and least favorable projects.

Renewable energy, including offshore wind power, is expected to play a significant role in mitigating climate change and meeting a growing demand on electricity. Fiji, a Small Island Developing Nation in the South Pacific, needs large quantities of additional renewable energy to achieve its NDC goals and has good natural resources for offshore wind power. The purpose of the study is to analyse the technical potential for fixed and floating offshore wind power, identify the most suitable site (s), perform economic feasibility analysesfor different-sized offshore wind farms and determine possible emission reductions from offsetting electricity generation based on fossil fuels. The objectives are achieved through a literature study, interviews, a GIS-based multi-criteria site suitability analysis and feasibility calculations. In the study it was concluded that there is great potential for offshore wind power in Fiji. There are large areas with technical potential for fixed and floating offshore wind power and the most suitable sites, both located in the Bligh waters, have average wind speeds of 8.6 m/s and 8.5 m/s. The potential for offshore wind power was concluded to be large enough for Fiji’s needs, economically feasible and potentially competitive to invest in. The simple payback time would be approximately 13.5 years and the cost of electricity would be 0.13 USD/kWh, which is lower than the feed-in tariff for Fiji’s national grid at 0.15 USD/kWh. Different-sized offshore wind farms and its possible emission reductions could contribute with between 12-37% of Fiji’s NDC goal to reduce emissions from the energy sector by 30% compared to a business as usual scenario as well as contribute to have 99% renewable grid-connected electricity generation by 2030. However, during the study, it was concluded an implementation of offshore wind power in Fiji would require large investments, large capacities of energy storage, frequency regulating services and there are potential environmental and social impacts have to be taken into consideration. There is also a need for further research on how to cyclone-proof offshore wind farms in Fiji. / Förnybar energi, inklusive havsbaserad vindkraft, förväntas spela en avgörande roll för att minska klimatförändringarna och för att möta en ökande efterfrågan på elektricitet. Fiji, en liten önation i Stilla havet, behöver stora mängder ytterligare förnybar energi för att nå sina NDC mål och har bra naturresurser för havsbaserad vindkraft. Syftet med studien är att analysera den tekniska potentialen för fixerad och flytande havsbaserad vindkraft, identifiera de mest lämpliga platserna, utföra ekonomiska lönsamhetsanalyser för olika stora havsbaserade vindkraftsparker och avgöra möjliga utsläppsminskningar genom att avsätta elproduktion baserad på fossila bränslen. Målen uppfylls genom en litteraturstudie, intervjuer, GIS-baserad multikriterie platslämplighetsanalys och genomförbarhetsberäkningar. I studien drogs slutsatsen att det finns stor potential för havsbaserad vindkraft i Fiji. Det finns stora områden med teknisk potential för fixerad och flytande havsbaserad vindkraft och de mest lämpliga platserna, båda belägna i Bligh waters, har genomsnittliga vindhastigheter på 8.6 m/s och 8.5 m/s. Potentialen för havsbaserad vindkraft bedöms vara stor nof för Fijis behov, ekonomsikt genomförbart och potentiellt konkurrenskraftigt att investera i. Återbetalningstiden bedöms vara ungeför 13.5 år och elektricitetskostnaden 0.13 USD/kWh, vilket är lägre än inmatningstaxan till Fijis nationella elnät som är på 0.15 USD/kWh. De 12-37% av Fijis mål om att minska utsläppen från energisektorn med 30% jämfört med ett business as usual scenario liksom bidra till att ha 99% förnybar elnätsansluten elgeneration till 2030. Men, i studien drog också slutsatsen att en implementering av havsbaserad vindkraft i Fiji skulle kräva stora investeringar, stora mängder energilagring, frekvensreglerande tjänster och det finns potentiella miljömässiga och sociala effekter som måste tas i hänsyn. Det finns också behov av ytterligare forskning om hur man kan cyklon-säkra havsbaserade vindkraftsparker i Fiji.

As part of the transition towards a fully sustainable energy system, green hydrogen shows great potential to decarbonise several hard-to-abate sectors. To provide the fossil-free electricity required for electrolysis, offshore wind power has emerged as a suggested option. In this report, four scenarios using different electrolyser placements and technologies are compared and applied in a 30-year case study considering a 1 GW offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea. The scenarios are evaluated through the optimisation of electrolyser capacities, full system modelling and simulation, a techno-economic assessment, as well as a literature review of technological readiness, safety aspects and operational considerations. It is shown that a range of installed capacities offers only slight differences in levelised costs and that the optimal sizes to a large part depend on future electrolyser cost developments. A 1:1 sizing ratio between electrolyser capacity and maximum available power is not suggested for any of the studied configurations. Further, the simulations indicate that electrolyser inefficiencies constitute 63.2–68.5% of the total energy losses. Power transmission losses are relatively small due to the short transmission distance, while the power demands of several subsystems are nearly insignificant. Onshore H2 production using an alkaline electrolyser system is highlighted, offering the highest system efficiency and largest hydrogen production, at 55.93% and 2.23 Mton, respectively. This setup is further shown to be the most cost-efficient, offering a levelised cost of hydrogen at 3.15 €/kgH2. However, obstacles in the form of social and environmental concerns and regulations are seemingly larger compared to the scenarios using offshore electrolysis. Further, rapid future cost developments for electrolysers are likely to strengthen the case for offshore and PEM electrolyser configurations. A range of research opportunities are highlighted to fill the identified knowledge gaps and enable further insights. / Como parte de la transicion hacia un sistema energético totalmente sostenible, el hidrógeno verde muestra un gran potencial para descarbonizar varios sectores en los que es difíciles de conseguir. La energía eólica marina ha surgido como una opción para suministrar la electricidad libre de fósiles necesaria para la electrólisis. En este informe se comparan y aplican cuatro escenarios que utilizan diferentes ubicaciones y tecnologías de electrolizadores en un estudio de caso a 30 aoñs que considera un parque eólico marino de 1 GW en el Mar Báltico. Los escenarios se evalúan mediante una optimización de la capacidad de los electrolizadores, la modelización y simulación de todo el sistema, una revisión bibliográfica de la disponibilidad tecnológica, teniendo en cuenta los aspectos de seguridad y las consideraciones operativas. Se demuestra que una gama de capacidades instaladas ofrece sólo ligeras diferencias en los costes nivelados y que los tamaños óptimos dependen en gran medida de la evolución futura de los costes de los electrolizadores. No se recomienda una relación de tamaño de 1:1 entre entre la capacidad del electrolizador y la potencia máxima disponible. Además, las simulaciones indican que las ineficiencias del electrolizador constituyen entre el 63,2% y el 68,5% de las pérdidas totales de energía. Las pérdidas de transmisión de energía son relativamente pequeñas debido a la corta distancia de transmisión, mientras que las demandas de energía de varios subsistemas son casi insignificantes. Destaca la producción de H2 en tierra utilizando un sistema de electrolizador alcalino, que ofrece la mayor eficiencia del sistema y la mayor producción de hidrógeno, con un 55,93% y 2,23 Mton respectivamente. Además, este sistema es el más rentable, con un coste nivelado del hidrógeno de 3,15 €/kgH2. Sin embargo, los obstáculos sociales, medioambientales y normativos parecen ser mayores que en el caso de la electrólisis en alta mar. Además, es probable que la rápida evolución de los costes de los electrolizadores refuerce las configuraciones de electrolizadores marinos y PEM. Se destacan en el documento una serie de oportunidades de investigación con el fin de completar el estado del arte identificado.

As part of the transition towards a fully sustainable energy system, green hydrogen shows great potential to decarbonise several hard-to-abate sectors. To provide the fossil-free electricity required for electrolysis, offshore wind power has emerged as a suggested option. In this report, four scenarios using different electrolyser placements and technologies are compared and applied in a 30-year case study considering a 1 GW offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea. The scenarios are evaluated through the optimisation of electrolyser capacities, full system modelling and simulation, a techno-economic assessment, as well as a literature review of technological readiness, safety aspects and operational considerations. It is shown that a range of installed capacities offers only slight differences in levelised costs and that the optimal sizes to a large part depend on future electrolyser cost developments. A 1:1 sizing ratio between electrolyser capacity and maximum available power is not suggested for any of the studied configurations. Further, the simulations indicate that electrolyser inefficiencies constitute 63.2–68.5% of the total energylosses. Power transmission losses are relatively small due to the short transmission distance, while the power demands of several subsystems are nearly insignificant. Onshore H2 production using an alkaline electrolyser system is highlighted, offering the highest system efficiency and largest hydrogen production, at 55.93% and 2.23 Mton, respectively. This setup is further shown to be the most cost-efficient, offering a levelised cost of hydrogen at 3.15 €/kgH2. However, obstacles in the form of social and environmental concerns and regulations are seemingly larger compared to the scenarios using offshore electrolysis. Further, rapid future cost developments for electrolysers are likely to strengthen the case for offshore and PEM electrolyser configurations. A range of research opportunities are highlighted to fill the identified knowledge gaps and enable further insights. / Como parte de la transición hacia un sistema energético totalmente sostenible, el hidrógeno verde muestra un gran potencial para descarbonizar varios sectores en los que es difíciles de conseguir. La energía eólica marina ha surgido como una opción para suministrar la electricidad libre de fósiles necesaria para la electrólisis. En este informe se comparan y aplican cuatro escenarios que utilizan diferentes ubicaciones y tecnologías de electrolizadores en un estudio de caso a 30 años que considera un parque eólico marino de 1 GW en el Mar Báltico. Los escenarios se evalúan mediante una optimización de la capacidad de los electrolizadores, la modelización y simulación de todo el sistema, una revisión bibliográfica de la disponibilidad tecnológica, teniendo en cuenta los aspectos de seguridad y las consideraciones operativas. Se demuestra que una gama de capacidades instaladas ofrece sólo ligeras diferencias en los costes nivelados y que los tamaños óptimos dependen en gran medida de la evolución futura de los costes de los electrolizadores. No se recomienda una relación de tamaño de 1:1 entre entre la capacidad del electrolizador y la potencia máxima disponible. Además, las simulaciones indican que las ineficiencias del electrolizador constituyen entre el 63,2% y el 68,5% de las pérdidas totales de energía. Las pérdidas de transmisión de energía son relativamente pequeñas debido a la corta distancia de transmisión, mientras que las demandas de energía de varios subsistemas son casi insignificantes. Destaca la producción de H2 en tierra utilizando un sistema de electrolizador alcalino, que ofrece la mayor eficiencia del sistema y la mayor producción de hidrógeno, con un 55,93% y 2,23 Mton respectivamente. Además, este sistema es el más rentable, con un coste nivelado del hidrógeno de 3,15 €/kgH2. Sin embargo, los obstáculos sociales, medioambientales y normativos parecen ser mayores que en el caso de la electrólisis en alta mar. Además, es probable que la rápida evolución de los costes de los electrolizadores refuerce las configuraciones de electrolizadores marinos y PEM. Se destacan en el documento una serie de oportunidades de investigacin ócon el fin de completar el estado del arte identificado.

The object of this thesis is to develop a cost effective direct-driven wind generator suited for offshore wind turbines. As the generator price is a complicated function dependent on many parameters, the emphasis is mainly put on reduction of the weight of active materials, such as copper, laminated steel, permanent magnets, and electrical insulation. The higher specific torque and power density of a transverse flux permanent magnet (TFPM) machine in comparison to conventional radial-flux machines make it a promising solution for direct-driven wind turbine generators. The novel TFPM generator investigated in this work due to its possibly more compact construction would allow a better utilization of the available nacelle space. The analytical model, including evaluation of the synchronous inductance, is developed and applied in parametric study of a 5 MW wind turbine generator. The influence of the design variables with respect to the analyzed characteristics is investigated. A number of machines that have approximately the same performances are found. These machines are compared and the optimal ranges for the main parameters are suggested. One possible design topology is presented in more details with dimensions and main characteristics. This generator is compared with radial-flux generators with surface-mounted and tangentially-polarized magnets. It is found that the analyzed TFPM generator would favor a smaller outer diameter, reduced total active weight, and reduced weight of the magnet material. The TFPM would however require a longer axial length. TFPM generators with a broader range of output power have also been investigated. Generators rated 3, 5, 7, 10, and 12 MW are analyzed and their characteristics with respect to the output power are compared. The novel transverse flux topology has been found to be promising for low-speed hightorque applications, such as direct-driven wind turbines in the multi-megawatt range. / QC 20101118

The ocean has tremendous potential in terms of energy generation, and wave energy is especially promising. However, wave energy technology is still non-commercial. Along with ambitious renewable energy targets and investments, much is happening within the field and the wave energy converter developers CorPower Ocean intend to have their technology proven in the upcoming years. This study aims at investigating the value of commercial wave energy in an energy system. This is fulfilled by the possibilities of achieving 24/7 Carbon-free Energy with the wave energy technology from CorPower Ocean at the stage of commercialization. An energy system is modeled with wave energy, floating offshore wind energy, lithium-ion battery storage and the Portuguese national grid, supplying Northvolt’s and Galp’s future lithium conversion facility in Portugal. Different system configurations are compared based on three Key Performance Indicators: 24/7 Carbon-free Energy performance, system emission, and cost for the electricity consumer. In addition, a review of available financial support mechanisms for renewable energy technologies and especially wave energy is done to understand how such mechanisms can affect the economic feasibility of the energy system modeled. The wave energy technology from CorPower Ocean shows to have a high power output and 24/7 carbon-free Energy performance in this study. Although a combination of wave and floating offshore wind energy better ensure energy security with generation profiles that peak at different times, the modeling shows that a system with wave energy alone is preferred for supplying the facility with electricity both from an environmental and economic perspective. The economic feasibility of Lithium-ion battery storage in the system is uncertain and to achieve 24/7 Carbon-free Energy supply of the facility a longer duration storage solution is needed. The price for wave energy in this study is higher than for other commercial renewable energy technologies such as solar PV. However, based on the available financial support structures from governments and other stakeholders, wave energy technology has the potential to be competitive as soon as the technology is proven. / Energigenerering från våra hav har stor potential, inte minst från vågkraft. Trots att vågkraftstekniken ännu inte har nått ett kommersiellt stadie händer det mycket inom området i takt med fler ambitiösa miljökrav och investeringar. CorPower Ocean utvecklar vågkraftsteknik och planerar att ha sin teknik bevisad inom några år. Den här studien syftar till att undersöka värdet av kommersiell vågkraft, vilket uppfylls genom möjligheterna till förnybar el 24 timmar om dygnet med CorPower Ocean’s vågenergiomvandlare. Ett energisystem modelleras med vågkraft, flytande vindkraft, litium-jon batterier och det portugisiska elnätet för att försörja Northvolts och Galps planerade anläggning för litiumkonvertering i Portugal. Olika systemkonfigurationer är jämförda utifrån tre parametrar: 24/7 förnybar el prestation, systemutsläpp och elkostnad för konsumenten. I tillägg utförs en studie om vilka finansiella supportmekanismer som finns för hållbar energiteknik och speciellt för utvecklingen av vågkraft. Detta för att få insikt i om vågkraft kan få finansiellt stöd och konkurrera med andra förnybara energitekniker. Studien visar att vågkraftstekniken presenterar bra utifrån de tre parametrarna. Trots att en kombination av våg och flytande vindkraft ger bättre elsäkerhet med alternerande produktionskurvor visar modelleringen att ett system med endast vågkraft är att föredra både från ett ekonomiskt och ett miljöperspektiv. En investering av litium-jon batterier i energisystemet är tveksam och för att uppnå förnybar elförsörjning av anläggningen 24 timmar om dygnet krävs en energilagringsteknik som möjliggör lagring över längre perioder. Priset för vågkraft i studien är högre än för andra kommersiella förnybara energitekniker så som solpaneler. Baserat på det finansiella stöd som finns från myndigheter och andra intressenter så är det möjligt för vågkraften att bli konkurrenskraftig så fort tekniken är bevisad.

Multiline anchors are a novel way to reduce the cost of arrays of floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs), but their behavior is not yet fully understood. Through metocean characterization and dynamic simulations, this thesis investigates the effects of wind-wave misalignment on multiline anchor systems. Four coastal U.S. sites are characterized in order to develop IEC design load cases (DLCs) and analyze real-world misaligned conditions. Stonewall Bank, Oregon showed the highest 500-year extreme wave height, at 16.6 m, while Virginia Beach, Virginia showed the highest 500-year wind speed, at 56.8 m/s. Misalignment probability distributions, at all sites, are found to converge towards zero (aligned conditions) and become less variable as wind speed increases. This indicates that high misalignment angles are unlikely at high wind speeds. A simulation parameter study, spanning a range of wave directions, misalignment angles, and DLCs, is run in OpenFAST to explore how misalignment affects multiline anchor loading. The simulated anchor is connected to three IEA 15 MW FOWT models via a taut mooring system. The force on the multiline anchor is calculated by summing the three tension vectors from the mooring lines. The mean direction of this force is found to align closely with the wind; each mean is within 5.5° of the wind direction. Higher misalignment angles cause increases to the amount of directional variation about this mean. The magnitude of the multiline force is also examined. Mean force level is found to be nearly unaffected by misalignment. However, maximum force decreases significantly as misalignment angle increases, dropping as much as 23.3% in extreme conditions. This confirms current anchor design practice, which treats aligned metocean conditions as the peak load an anchor experiences. Standard deviation of multiline force also decreases with misalignment. The operational load case, DLC 1.6, shows a slight trend towards this, but the extreme case, SLC, shows a more pronounced drop of 32.4%. This suggests that anchor cyclic loading analyses could benefit from considering misalignment. Doing so could lead to lower estimates of the cyclic loading amplitudes that anchor designs must withstand, thus leading to smaller, cheaper anchors.

<p dir="ltr">There has been an increased urgency toward mitigating climate change in the past several years. Global warming is causing a climate crisis, affecting ecosystems' ability to reduce extreme events. There is a need for rapid decarbonization while still maintaining healthy economic growth and development. Several nations have adopted various policies and set goals to minimize the impact on human society and mitigate the effects of climate change. While this is a step in the right direction, the rate at which these policies are implemented needs to be accelerated to reach the decarbonization goals that have been set. The prime pillars of decarbonization include adopting renewable energy systems, increasing energy efficiency, industrial electrification, low carbon feedstock, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage.</p><p dir="ltr">There is a pressing need for technological improvements in these areas. Renewable energy sources are not only inexhaustible but also reduce the dependence on fossil-based feedstock and lower air pollution, decreasing the risk of climate change. One of the more significant challenges of adopting renewable energy is the upfront investment required to set up the necessary infrastructure. The first objective of this research is to provide well-researched information on the impacts of the planned renewable energy projects. This research evaluates the effects of expanding offshore wind energy and adopting biobased plastics within the U.S. economy. Using industrial ecology methods, including macroeconomic Input-Output models and Material Flow Analysis through Physical Input-Output Tables, this study assesses the broader economic and environmental impacts of these renewable solutions. A multiregional macroeconomic Input-Output (MRIO) model for the U.S. was developed using the U.S. Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratory, enhanced with a regional GHG emissions database. This enabled a spatial analysis of economic and emissions impacts from offshore wind energy expansion. Findings show an economic payback period similar to other renewables, with a notably short carbon payback period of less than 6 months. Another objective of this research emphasizes the need for and the effect of implementing circular economy opportunities to boost resource efficiency. It is explicitly designed around the manufacturing of bioplastics from agricultural residue that have the potential to combat the critical environmental issue of plastic pollution. This report elucidates the likely impact of manufacturing these materials on the economy and the environment. Process systems engineering models for polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastics manufacturing were integrated into a national-scale Input-Output model to restructure the U.S. economic model for bioplastics expansion. Results show a potential emissions reduction of up to 35%. It also seeks to evaluate the impacts of replacing different types of plastic packaging with bio-based alternatives using PIOT Hub. This tool demonstrates the potential of replacing pharmaceutical packaging with agro-residue-based bioplastics, supporting a circular economy to mitigate environmental impacts in these sectors. This research highlights bio-based packaging's role in reducing pollution and promoting resource efficiency, showing both environmental and economic benefits of these sustainable materials.</p><p><br></p>