Offshore Wind in the Energy Transition. A Comparative Analysis of Floating and Bottom-Fixed Technologies

Offshore wind energy is a strategic pillar for achieving European climate neutrality targets, yet its deployment faces geographical and technological constraints. Fixed-bottom offshore wind (FBOW) has reached industrial maturity in shallow waters but is limited by depth. Floating offshore wind (FOW) emerges as a solution for deep-water contexts, unlocking vast resources and enabling integration with advanced energy systems such as power-to-X. This analysis conducts a systematic comparative analysis of FBOW and FOW technologies through a techno-economic framework based on six key parameters: installation depth, turbine power, capacity factor (CF), CAPEX, OPEX, and levelized cost of energy (LCOE). A review of 313 sources, reduced to 61 after applying selection criteria, reveals that FOW operates at depths up to 1550 m, with higher average turbine capacities (16 MW vs. 11 MW for FBOW) and superior CF (38% vs. 22%). Economic results show combined averages CAPEX of 2.43 M$/MW, OPEX of 22.7 k$/MW/year, and LCOE around 120 $/MWh, with significant variability. While FOW currently exhibits higher initial costs, its scalability and operational advantages, such as tow-to-shore maintenance, suggest strong potential for cost reduction. These findings highlight FOW as essential for exploiting deep-water wind resources and achieving long-term decarbonization goals in regions like the Mediterranean.