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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.