Hybrid Ocean Renewable Systems: Coupling Offshore Wind, Wave, and Hydrogen Production Platforms

Abstract

Hybrid ocean renewable systems that co-locate offshore wind turbines, wave energy converters (WECs), and offshore hydrogen (H₂) production are emerging as a systems-level pathway to deliver round-the-clock clean energy, decongest export cables, and accelerate maritime decarbonisation. This review synthesises the resource complementarity of wind and waves, integration architectures (AC/HVDC export vs. offshore Power-to-X), platform typologies (co-located, hybrid, and island concepts), electrolyser options (PEM/AEL) and balance-of-plant (desalination, oxygen/brine management), as well as reliability, environmental, regulatory, and techno-economic aspects. We draw on recent pilots (Sealhyfe) and multi-source parks (EU-SCORES), new certification (DNV-ST-J301), and North Sea “energy island” visions. We find that wind-wave co-location can raise effective capacity utilisation and smooth power delivery; offshore H₂ can unlock constrained grids but faces capex, O&M, and permitting hurdles. Priority R&D needs include shared moorings/dynamic cables, meshed HVDC, system digital twins, colocated environmental baselines, and bankable standards for electrolyser systems at sea.