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[Abstract]: Marine renewable energies are being implemented as basic energy sources of the Spanish energy system for various reasons, the first because the planet Earth is made up of 70% water, which makes marine resources very important when programming the production, the second because they are clean energies that do not emit greenhouse gases, necessary to comply with the European Green Deal and the third because this type of energy provides us with energy independence from third countries. But, despite the social benefits mentioned above, we also have to take into account economic factors that can make the economic profitability of this type of equipment less viable. For this, the wind resource, platform costs, etc. are analyzed. Within these factors, this research focuses on seeing how the variation in the price of steel (the main material used in this equipment) caused by the increase in the cost of electricity causes the main economic parameters to vary for a park made up of W2Power hybrid platforms. of 300 MW located on the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula.

[Abstract]: The aim of this paper is to study the suitability of different floating offshore energy technologies in a particular location in economic terms. In this context, their main initial investments and expenses have been taken into account in order to calculate the economic indicators of the economic feasibility study. These indicators are Internal Rate of Return, Net Present Value and Levelized Cost Of Energy. The case study has evaluated the Canary Islands (Spain) and three types of floating offshore renewable energies: offshore wind, wave energy and hybrid systems. The method created generates economic maps, which facilitates the election of the best area where install offshore renewable energy farms in the location selected. In addition, it also allows to select what is the best marine technology to be exploited in this area.

© 2021 The Authors. This work was partially supported by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) under the project “Prevencion de Riesgos de Inundaciones y Sequías en la Cuenca Internacional del Miño-Limia” Interreg-Poctep 2014–2020 (EU. INTERREG-POCTEP 2014-2020, 0034-RISC_ML_6_E) and by Xunta de Galicia under the project ED431C 2017/64-GRC (Grupos de Referencia Competitiva)., The present study analyses changes in the timing and duration of the hot days season over the Middle East and North Africa region from 1970 to 2099 using model simulations of 11 regional models from the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment under the RCP8.5 scenario. In general, a nonsymmetrical lengthening of the hot days season is projected, with a tendency to extend more into spring than into autumn. By the end of the century and the RCP8.5 scenario, Western Africa and the Persian Gulf display a hot days season starting 60 days earlier than in the historical period (1970–1999) (May vs. July, respectively). Southernmost latitudes are the most affected by a later retreat of the hot days season, of up to 60 days with respect to the historical period (October vs. August). The length of the extreme season is projected to increase between 100 and 120 days for the southernmost latitudes and the Persian Gulf resulting in nearly four more months with hot days conditions., European Commission, Xunta de Galicia, Depto. de Física de la Tierra y Astrofísica, Fac. de Ciencias Físicas, TRUE, pub

[Abstract] Wind energy resources are subject to changes in climate, so the use of wind energy density projections in the near future is essential to determine the viability and profitability of wind farms at particular locations. Thus, a step forward in determining the economic assessment of floating offshore wind farms was taken by considering current and near-future wind energy resources in assessing the main parameters that determine the economic viability (net present value, internal rate of return, and levelized cost of energy) of wind farms. This study was carried out along the Atlantic coast from Brest to Cape St. Vincent. Results show that the future reduction in wind energy density (2%–6%) mainly affects the net present value (NPV) of the farm and has little influence on the levelized cost of energy (LCOE). This study provides a good estimate of the economic viability of OWFs (Offshore Wind Farms) by taking into account how wind resources can vary due to climate change over the lifetime of the farm.

[Abstract] The region of Galicia, in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, has a high wind potential for the installation of offshore wind farms (OWFs) in many areas of its surrounding marine waters. However, legal restrictions derived from the protection of other interests that converge in the marine environment (such as fishing, navigation, and biodiversity conservation) must be considered, along with technical limitations resulting from water depth. This study is aimed at analysing legal restrictions on the installation of OWFs in Galician waters and at identifying those zones of less conflict where the wind power density (WPD) is greater and the depths and distances from the coast are technically feasible given the current status of technology in Europe. To do this, a legal study was performed of both the strategic environmental assessment of the Spanish coast and the regulations of the different marine sectors at European, international, national, and regional levels. In addition, the WPD along the north-western area of the Iberian Peninsula and Europe was calculated, and an analysis of maximum and average depths and distances from the coast of planned and installed OWFs in Europe was made. Two main zones without legal and technical restrictions were identified in the north-eastern corner of Galicia and in the south of the Vigo estuary. The greatest WPD was identified in the north-western zone, from Cape Finisterre to Cape Ortegal, where there are small sites without legal or technical restrictions that are near several protected zones (such as a marine reserve, a special protected area, and a wetland and its buffer zone), making necessary a deeper analysis of the specific impacts of each OWF project in the Environmental Impact Assessment.