Assessment of offshore wind power potential in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea: Insights into fixed-bottom and floating offshore technologies

Offshore wind power represents a sustainable renewable energy source with significant potential to meet global power demands. In this study, the technical potential of offshore wind energy in the Red Sea of Saudi Waters, was thoroughly evaluated. The evaluation relied on two types of offshore infrastructure: fixed depth foundation (FXDF) for depths ≤ 60 m, and floating-type foundation (FLTF) for depths > 60 m. Multi-criteria decision-making methods with a Geographic Information System (GIS) and ERA5 reanalysis data for a 40-year period were used at 65 offshore sites, with an average axis height of 120 m and mean wind speeds ranging from 4.17 to 7.01 m/s. Geographic exclusions were applied for shipping lanes, bird migration routes, and water depth restrictions, leaving 8000 km² suitable for fixed piles and 51,804 km² for floating platforms. The results highlighted that Site M62 at 7.01 m/s was regarded as the most feasible for large-scale wind farms, which exhibits the highest wind power density of 336.23 W/m², maximal power capacity factor of 31.95 %, minimal levelized cost of energy of 1.700 $/kWh, and GHG offset of 3362 tons of CO₂. Moreover, the potential installed capacities for FLTF and FXDF technologies are estimated at 139.041 GW and 59.634 GW, respectively, yielding a combined capacity of 198.675 GW. The study addressed key challenges such as seabed geology, saltwater corrosion, and grid connection requirements, requiring design and engineering solutions adapted to the Red Sea environment. These results confirm that the Red Sea offers a competitive opportunity for offshore wind energy development, supporting national transformation plans toward a more sustainable energy mix and contributing to meeting Saudi Arabia's ambitious renewable energy goals.