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In the past decade, the global share of fossil-based electricity generation has decreased from 67% to 61% in favor of renewable alternatives. To achieve global goals, a continued extensive expansion of electricity generation from renewable energy sources is necessary. Offshore wind power is expected to constitute a significant portion of this additional generation capability. However, intermittent energy generation like wind or solar power has negative impacts on the electricity grid due to its inherently variable and non-dispatchable nature. Furthermore, energy generation from renewable energy sources is characterized by low utilization and requirement of large geographical areas.

One way to mitigate several of these negative aspects is by co-locating energy sources with complementary characteristics. Combining different types of complementary renewable energy sources can reduce overall variability, increase transmission system utilization, and decrease land use. This thesis addresses several aspects of grid integration of offshore co-located energy sources, primarily, offshore wind power, floating solar power, and wave power. One question analyzed in several of the included studies is the optimal combination of energy sources for co-location to achieve the lowest variability.

Another aspect investigated is the capacity credit for a hybrid park consisting of co-located energy generation compared to the capacity credit for a wind farm. In a case study for the Netherlands, the capacity credit for combined wave and wind power is higher than for wind power alone. Additionally, the complementarity of renewable energy sources is analyzed and explained.

A substantial increase in renewable energy sources connected to the electrical grid is imperative to achieve net-zero emissions from the electricity sector. Marine energy sources, like marine current power and wave power, have the potential to significantly contribute to the increase of electricity from renewable energy sources. A crucial aspect of enabling marine energy utilization is the development of electrical systems for offshore renewable energy. Hence, this thesis addresses challenges regarding the grid connection of offshore renewable energy.

Two important questions for offshore renewable energy are how to construct the offshore electrical grid and how to transmit the power to the shore. This thesis provides a review of AC and DC collection grid topologies and compares HVAC and HVDC transmission for offshore applications. It is concluded that HVDC is the preferred technology for transmission distances exceeding 50 to 100 km.

Regardless of the configuration of the offshore collection grid, the energy converters must be connected to the collection and distribution grid. Uppsala University has deployed a marine current energy converter in the river Dalälven in Söderfors, Sweden. The grid connection system at the test site is based on a back-to-back converter technology. In the thesis, a simulation model of the grid connection system of the energy converter is presented. The simulation model is used to evaluate MPPT methods for marine current power. An advanced hydrodynamic model based on a two-dimensional free vortex method is utilized for this purpose. Additionally, a low-complexity hydrodynamic model is incorporated into the simulation model to assess electrical grids for marine current energy. One AC and one DC collection grid, each comprising five marine current energy converters, are compared. Furthermore, three DC collection grids, each with ten marine current energy converters, are assessed and compared.

The grid connection system at the Söderfors test site includes an LC filter connected to a power transformer. A novel transfer function is derived for this system, and the transfer function is verified with simulations and experimental investigations. It is shown that the derived transfer function accurately captures the frequency response of the experimental system.